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UNITED STATES OP AMERICA 


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Would you like to buy a pair of spectacles ? — Seepage 16 








THE 


■ 


•> ' 


MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


By CHAUNCEY GILES. 


ILLUSTRATED BY CHAPMAN. 


jr 


c/neW YORK: 
JOSEPH R. PUTNAM. 


1868. 



# . 


Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by 
CHAUNCEY GILES, 

In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern 

District of New York. 

/Z-3^S'C - 3 


The New York Printing Company, 
8 i, 83, and 85 Centre Street , 
New York. 


k 

* 


CONTENTS 


4 

CHAPTER I. PAGE 

The Magician. — The Spectacles 9 

CHAPTER II. 

Was it a dream or a reality ? — Determination to test it. — 
Tom Jones. — The first trial. — Its results. — Second trial. 

— Doubts. — Final success 34 

CHAPTER III. 

A new test. — Despair. — Success 51 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Conference. — The Music Lesson 67 

CHAPTER V. 

A new proof. — Sewing. — It is a fact 84 


IV 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER VI. page 

Wonderful change. — The cause. — Gift certain 105 

CHAPTER VII. 

The lost cap and the lost temper. — A new test and a new 

triumph of the spectacles 113 

CHAPTER VIII. 

A sharp conflict. — What came of it 127 

CHAPTER IX. 

How to find faults. — A new kind of mirror. — What Clara 

saw in it 140 

CHAPTER X. 

In which the Spectacles give a new proof of their won- 
derful power. 159 

CHAPTER XI. 

The secret out 167 

CHAPTER XII. 

Magic Spectacles, and aid for all. — Will you accept them ?. 177 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


CHAPTER I. 

» 

THE MAGICIAN. THE SPECTACLES. 

Two children were sitting one summer’s evening 
on the piazza of a house in a quiet street in the 
city of JSTew York. They were brother and sister. 
George had been trying to do a long sum in his 
arithmetic lesson, but he had not succeeded very 
well, for it required more patience than he was dis- 
posed to give it. Clara had been reading a story 
about fairies. As it was now getting too dark to 
read or study, George threw down his slate, with 
disappointment at not being able to get the right 
answer to his sum, and said, with impatience : — 

“I do not see what use there is in having such 


10 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


long and hard sums. I wish there was no such thing 
as arithmetic. See there,” he said, showing his slate 
to his sister; “I have covered the whole of this.side 
and a part of the other with figures, and I have 
not got the answer right, after all my care and 
trouble.” 

“ You must get a fairy to help you,” said Clara, 
in a half-playful, half-musing mood. 

“ A fairy ! ” replied George, with much contempt. 
“You are always talking about fairies, when you 
know there are no such things. O, yes, I think I 
will,” he said, his countenance brightening up, while 
a smile played around his lips, as though some funny 
idea was about to break out into speech. “ I know a 
fairy who can help me, though he don’t look very 
fairy-like. My fairy is Tom Jones.” 

“ Tom Jones ! ” exclaimed Clara; “ that big, rough 
fellow, with heavy boots, and hard, clumsy hands ! 
Think of him skipping around among the flowers, 
flying here and there and everywhere, without be- 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


11 


ing heard or seen ! It is too absurd ! ” And she 
laughed outright. 

“ It may he that he could not skip about much,” 
said George, “ but it is not a hopping and skipping 
and hide-and-go-seek fairy that I want. I want a 
steady and useful one, if any. Tom Jones is the 
fairy that can help one in arithmetic, let me tell you. 
His fingers skip about fast enough when he is doing 
sums. He knows more about arithmetic than any 
boy in school. I do believe some real fairy must 
help him, if there are any such creatures, and I 
know there are not. He seems to see right through 
a sum in a minute, and he always gets the right 
answer. Then he is so good-natured about helping 
one ; he seems to like to do it. He is not like your 
fairies, that are always teasing and tormenting and 
playing tricks upon one. He is a real good sub- 
stantial fairy. Yes, Tom Jones is my fairy.” 

“Well, he is not very fairy-like in appearance, 
certainly,” said Clara. “ But would n’t it be so nice if 


12 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


there were real fairies like those we read about, who 
could do wonderful things for us ? If you got into 
difficulty, your fairy would always be at hand to help 
you out. If you wanted anything, just say some 
magical word, and she would be present with what- 
ever you wanted. You could go anywhere, or do 
anything you pleased, without any trouble.” 

“ Yes, I think it would be splendid,” said George. 
“ But do you suppose there ever were any such strange 
and wonderful beings as we read about in stories ? ” 

“ Indeed I do,” replied Clara. “ But it was a 
great while ago when they lived. They all seem 
to have gone away from the earth now.” 

“Well, I don’t believe there ever were any such 
beings anywhere,” said George. “All the things 
that are said about them in the books we read are 
nothing but stories that somebody made up. Tom 
Jones is my fairy, after all.” 

“ But how could they make up the stories about 
fairies, if there had never been any ? ” asked Clara. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


13 


“ Why, ” said George, “ you can imagine 
anything you please. It is as easy to imagine 
fairies as anything else.” 

“ Could you, if you had never heard of any 
such beings, or any like them \ ” asked Clara. 

“ Try to think of something that nobody ever 
saw or heard of, or that never existed in any form.” 

This was something George had never thought of 
before. He sat a few moments, trying to do the 
impossible thing, and when he found he could not, 
he said, “ I cannot ; but some persons may be able 
to do it, for all that. I cannot do all my sums, but 
my fairy can.” 

So the children went on chatting until the light 
had nearly faded from the west, and the very time • 
for fairies to appear, if there were any, had come. 
The chatting ceased, and they were about to go into 
the house, when they thought they heard one of the 
street cries. They both listened. It sounded a lit- 
tle like “ blackberries.” 


14 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ What is it ? ” asked Clara, in a half whisper, as 
though she was almost afraid to speak aloud. They 
had been talking about ghosts and fairies until 
Clara could almost see them about her. 

“ Oh, it is nothing but the old blackberry woman,” 
replied George. “ She cannot have had as good luck 
to-day as usual, or she would not be out so late. 
She usually sells out long before this time. There it 
is again ! It sounds much clearer now. I am quite 
sure it is she ; and she is coming this way. Let us 
wait and buy some, and help the old lady a little. 
Perhaps she may be 6 a fairy in disguise, J ” he con- 
tinued, in a jocose way, “ and if we are kind to her 
she may do some wonderful thing for us, — give me a 
wishing-hat, and you a magical ring, or some such 
wonderful talisman.” 

“ Who knows,” said Clara, “ but what she 
may ! ” 

Her imagination was so excited by what she had 
been reading, and by the conversation, that she 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


15 


would not have been surprised to see some wonder- 
ful being come up and speak to her. 

44 If she only brings some good ripe blackberries, 
I shall be content for the present,” said George. 

The cry continued, and seemed to come nearer. 
The children both listened. 

44 The cry is not 4 blackberries,’ after all,” said 
George, in a doubtful tone ; “I wonder what it can 
be. It sounds like 4 spectacles.’ That is it, I do 
believe. Hark ! 4 Spec-ta-cles ! Spec-ta-cles ! ’ that 
is it, as sure as the world. There it is again.” 

44 Spec-ta-cles,” came sounding through the streets 
in a clear, shrill, and prolonged tone. 44 Spec-ta-cles ! 
Make old eyes as good as new.” 

44 How strange, that any one should be around 
selling spectacles at this time of the day ! ” 

He had hardly said this, before a sprightly old 
man, with bright black eyes, and a pleasant smile 
about his mouth, came along with a box in his hand, 
and seeing George and Clara on the piazza, he 


16 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


opened the gate, and came directly up to them, at 
the same time addressing them in a pleasant tone. 

“ Good evening, children ! Would you like to buy 
a pair of spectacles? They will make old eyes as 
good as new.” 

George and Clara both laughed at the idea of 
wearing spectacles. 

“ Our eyes are very good,” said Clara. “We are 
not quite so old as you seem to think. I am afraid 
we could not see as well with your spectacles as 
without them.” 

“O, yes, you can. You can see much better,” 
said the old man. “ I can lit young eyes and old, 
blue eyes and brown, black eyes and gray. Will 
you try a pair ? ” And he set down his box, which 
the children noticed was very much like a book in 
shape, as if he intended to open it. 

“We will not trouble you to open it,” said George, 
“ for I am quite sure we shall not buy any, unless 
you have a pair that will help me to see through my 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


17 


sums in arithmetic. If you have, perhaps we might 
make a trade.” 

u Just the thing, exactly,” said the old man. “ I 
have a plenty of them that will fit all eyes, and 
help everybody to understand everything that it 
will be useful for them to know. A boy by 
the name of Jones got a pair of me a few 
years ago, and he is said to be a first-rate scholar 
now.” 

“What Jones?” inquired George, with great 
eagerness. “ Was it Thomas Jones ? ” 

“ Yes, that was his name. Do you know him ? ” 

“ O, yes ! ” said George. “ And he often shows 
me how to get my sums.” 

George now began to take a deep interest in the 
spectacles. Perhaps there might be something in 
what the old man said, after all. It did seem 
perfectly wonderful how easily Tom Jones could 
do sums that it was impossible for him to do. If he 
could get something that would help him to do as 


18 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


well as Tom did, lie would be perfectly delighted, 
and he began to think seriously of buying a pair of 
the old man’s spectacles. But, then, he thought 
they must be very dear, and he might not be able to 
buy them after all. Still there would be no harm in 
asking the price. While he was thinking a moment 
what it would be best to do, the old man turned to 
Clara, and said : — 

“ I have a pair for you, too, Miss Clara.” 

“No, I thank you. I have no sums to trouble 
now,” she replied. “ But how did you know that my 
name is Clara ? I think you never saw me before.” 

“ No, I never did,” replied the mysterious man. 
“ But I have a pair of spectacles which enables me 
to see the names of everybody I wish to know. 
Your name, my little man, is George Field, I per- 
ceive. The spectacles are very wonderful and very 
useful. Will you buy a pair ? ” 

The children looked at each other with much 
surprise, and Clara became a little frightened. She 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


19 


began to fear that he might be some wizard who 
had come to harm them. But when she looked up 
to his face, he smiled as if he knew her thoughts, and 
he appeared to be so pleasant and kind, that she 
felt quite sure he did not intend to do them any in- 
jury. Her fears being quieted, she was disposed to 
talk more with him. 

“Those must be very strange spectacles,” she 
said. “ Have you any that will help little girls to 
get any lesson, to sew, and to do any kind of work? ” 

“Yes, indeed,” said he. “ Put on a pair, and you 
can see perfectly how to do everything that it is 
your duty to do.” 

“ In the dark, too ? ” said George, in an incredu- 
lous tone. 

“Yes, you can see somethings as well, and a 
little better, in the dark than in the light.” 

The interest of both George and Clara was now 
much excited. What the old man told them about 
the quality of his spectacles seemed absurd and im- 


20 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


possible ; and yet there was something so kind and 
gentle in his manner; he was so bright and earnest, 
and apparently sincere, that they could not resist the 
conviction that there must be some truth in what 
he said. Clara, who was impulsive, and somewhat 
credulous and imaginative, was ready to believe 
that a real fairy had appeared to her, and in her 
quick and ardent fancy she was already beginning 
to picture the splendid results that would flow from 
it. She was willing to give everything in her pos- 
session for a pair of spectacles that would work such 
wonderful effects. But George was naturally skep- 
tical "and cautious; and though he was almost con- 
vinced of the truth of what the magician told him, 
and eagerly alive to the great value of such a pair of 
spectacles, yet he wanted to be sure that it was not 
all a delusion, before he purchased a pair. He 
thought if he could try on a pair, and see for him- 
self, he would be certain not to be deceived. So he 
said : — 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


21 


“ Perhaps you will let me put on a pair of your 
magical glasses, and try them.” 

“ Certainly, my little man, with all my heart ; 
you may try them as long as you please ; and if you 
do not like them, and if they do not help you to see 
all I have promised, you will be the first person 
who has ever found them to fail.” 

But still George had some misgivings about 
trying them. How strange he would look with 
spectacles on ! What would his father and mother 
and his companions at school say to him \ Besides, 
they might have some bad effect upon his eyes, 
so that he would have to wear them all the time 
or he could not see anything. 

While these doubts were passing in his mind, the 
old man was feeling in his pockets for the key to 
his little box. As soon as he found it, he unlocked 
the box and raised the lid. A strange and bright 
light flashed from it, which seemed to make the 
space around them bright. The children both 
2 


22 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


started, and looked into the box with the most 
intense curiosity. But they could see nothing like 
spectacles. The old man seemed to be busily en- 
gaged in examining the different apartments of the 
box, and acted as though he was turning over various 
things, though the children could see nothing but a 
bright glare of light. At last the old man cried out, 
briskly : — 

“ Here they are ! here is a pair that will fit you 
exactly. Just the thing for you ! They will suit the 
color and form of your eyes, and, what is much better 
and more important, they will suit your mind.” 
And he went through all the motions of opening 
a pair of spectacles, and wiping the glasses with a 
piece of cloth. Then, stretching out his hand to 
George, he said : — 

“ Here, my little fellow, try these ; I think they 
will make everything look bright and clear.” 

But George could see nothing in his hand ; and 
after looking at it a moment, he said : — 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


23 


“ I cannot see any spectacles in your hand.” 

“ Can’t you ? Can’t you see anything in my hand ? 
Look sharp, now ! ” 

“No,” replied George; “I can’t see anything. 
There is not anything in your hand.” 

“ There,” said the little man, “ they will fit you 
exactly. They are perfectly transparent, and you 
can see through them, and not see them. Now I 
will put them on.” 

The old man approached him, and rubbed his 
forehead, and passed his hands several times over 
his eyes, and then passed them around to his ears. 
At first, George thought he was putting something 
into them, and then the feeling changed into a 
sound, which seemed to penetrate to his brain, and 
down to his very heart. 

“ There,” said the man, “ they are safely and 
securely on.” 

“But I don’t see any spectacles, nor can I feel 
any,” said George, putting his hand up to his eyes. 


24 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ No, I tliink not ; the spectacles are not on your 
nose. They are worn inside of your eyes, and of 
course no one can see them, nor can you feel them. 
There was no way of getting them into their proper 
place but through your ears. They are magical 
spectacles, and you will find them so, I assure 
you.” 

George opened and shut his eyes, and put his hand 
to them, and to his ears, and looked at this thing 
and that. He thought everything looked some 
brighter, though he.wasnot quite sure. Indeed, the 
whole affair had turned out so different from what 
he expected, that he hardly knew whether he was 
awake or in a dream. He must be under the in- 
fluence of some magical power. 

The magician now turned to Clara, and said, very 
pleasantly : — 

“ Now let us get a pair for you.” 

lie examined her eyes very carefully, and asked her 
some questions about what she liked and disliked to 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


25 


do ; and then went to his box, and hunted it over as 
before. In a little while he turned round before 
her, and holding out his open hand, he asked her 
“ how she liked the looks of those ? ” 

“ I cannot see anything at all,” she replied, “ but 
your hand. There is not anything in it.” 

“ Then they will fit you exactly,” he said ; “ for if 
you could see the spectacles, you could not see any- 
thing else clearly. They would not fit you.” 

He then proceeded to put them on, in the same 
way as he had done to George. Clara rather shrank 
from the operation at first. But his voice was so 
pleasant, and his manner was so kind and gentle, 
that her fears were soon quieted, and she stood quite 
still while he was putting the spectacles in their 
place. When this was accomplished, 

“ There they are,” he said. “ How you are all 
right, and you can see as well as the keenest- 
sighted.” 

“But I do not see anything wonderful,” said 


26 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


Clara, looking around. “I cannot see any better 
than I could before.” 

“Neither can I,” said George, with some dis- 
appointment in his tone. 

“ No,” replied the little magician, “ I know you 
cannot, and you do not need any aid from the spec- 
tacles now. You can see well enough without them. 
They were not made to help those who wear them, 
when they do not need any help, but only when they 
do need it. This is one of their excellent and 
wonderful qualities. You do % not want any one to 
assist you in doing those sums that you can easily 
work out yourself, do you, George ? ” 

“No, indeed,” he replied. “There are a great 
many sums that 1 can do easily enough, and there 
is real fun in doing them when the answer comes 
out right ; and there are many other things that I 
would not thank any fairy to help me to do.” 

“■Which do you like to do best, easy or hard 
things ? ” asked the spectacle man. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


27 


“ O, when I can do hard things, I like to do them 
a great deal better than I do easy tilings,” replied 
George. “ But when you try, and try, and then 
can’t succeed, it is real discouraging.” 

“ So it is, so it is,” said the old man, in a kind, 
sympathizing tone; “and the magical spectacles are 
made to help you in seeing how to do hard things ; 
how to get hard lessons, and do unpleasant things.” 

“ That will be splendid,” said Clara. 

The old man now stood looking at George and 
Clara, with a pleasant smile upon his homely face, as 
if he was trying to penetrate into their inmost hearts, 
or waiting for them to say or do something more. 

George recollected now, that nothing had. been 
said about the price of the spectacles. He had been 
so absorbed in the process of putting them on, and 
in the expectation of their magical effects, that he 
had forgotten to ask the price. Perhaps the old man 
might be waiting for his pay. So he said : — 

“You have not told us the price of the spectacles 


28 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


yet ; perhaps we can’t buy them, after all, and you 
will have to take them back.” 

“ I can’t take them back,” said the old man, with 
more seriousness than he had shown before. u I 
can’t take them back ; when they are put on, and fit 
as I see yours do, they can never be taken off. You 
must always wear them.” 

George and Clara were both quite terrified at this. 
The old man might have done something to gain a 
magical power over them, and make them his slaves, 
or do them some great harm. 

He seemed to read their thoughts, for he said : — 
“ Ho, you cannot take them off. But don’t be afraid, 
they will not hurt you, and I see plainly that you will 
some time regard them as of priceless value.” His 
manner was so earnest and sincere and kind that the 
fears of the children were quieted, and George said : — 
“Well, what is the price? How much do you ask 
for these spectacles ? I am afraid we cannot pay for 
them if they are so valuable.” 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


29 


“ I ask a great price, a very great price ! ” said the 
old man. “ But they are worth it, and a thousand 
times more.” 

George and Clara both became satisfied now, that 
they had done a very foolish thing in permitting him 
to put the spectacles on. It might take all their 
father was worth, and more too, to pay for them ; 
but there was no help for it now, and they might as 
well put a bold face upon the matter. 

“ Well, how much is it? ” asked George. 

“ A great price ! a very great price ! and I am 
afraid you will not always be willing to give it.” 

“ I will give you all I can,” said George. 

“ Will you ? will you ? ” asked the old man, 
quickly. “That is all I want. That is enough. 
‘ All you can ! 5 That is all I ask. Give me 
your life. I ask your life.” And he spoke it with a 
sternness he had not shown before. 

The children were both terribly frightened at this 
demand. They could not run nor cry out, but stood 


30 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


pale and silent before the old man, who drew himself 
up erect, and looked at them for a moment with a 
keen and piercing glance. Then his face relaxed into 
a gentle and winning smile, as he said : — 

“ Don’t be alarmed, children ; I would not hurt you 
for the world. You must give me your life. But I 
do not mean by that to kill you. I only mean that 
you must use the spectacles as I tell you ; and, if 
you do, it will be more for your advantage than for 
mine. All I ask is, that you remember what I am 
going to tell you now, and obey it.” 

The children drew a long breath of relief, and in 
the same earnest voice, said : — • 

“ What is it, sir ? ” 

“ You must not forget,” he said, “ that the specta- 
cles will never help you to see anything that you can 
see well enough without them. Nor will they help 
you in anything, unless you try to help yourselves. 
That would do you more harm than good. When 
you find anything hard to understand, or any duty 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


31 


hard to do, remember to look at one thing at a time. 
One thing at a time, is the first rule. If you try to 
see too many things at once, the glasses will get 
blurred, and the images will be confused. Then you 
must look closely and steadily at the one thing, until 
you see through it. Be patient and persevere. 
Remember that. Even with the aid of magical spec- 
tacles, no one can at once see through everything 
that is worth knowing. Look sharp, be patient, 
and persevere, and every lesson and every duty will 
become easier and more pleasant. Row, remember. 
One thing at a time. Look sharp. Be patient, and 
persevere, and you will find that the glasses will 
work wonders. That is all I ask. Give your life to 
these rules, and you will pay me a thousand times. 
You will never see me again ; but I shall see you, 
and help you all I can.” 

Bo saying, he bid the children good evening with a 
pleasant smile, ran down the steps in a very sprightly 
m anner, and soon George and Clara heard the cry again. 


32 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ Spec-ta-cles ! Spec-ta-cles ! Buy my spec-ta-cles ! 
Make old eyes as good as new ! ” The sounds grew 
fainter and fainter until they finally died away, and 
they could hear them no more. 

Just at this time, their mother came out and 
said : — 

“ O, here you are ; I have been hunting all around 
for you. The hell rang for tea long ago. Did you 
not hear it ? ” 

George and Clara both rubbed their eyes, and 
yawned, as though they had been asleep. They got 
up immediately, and followed their mother into the 
house. They were both silent and abstracted during 
tea, and looked at each other, and at everything 
around them, in a rather singular manner. Their 
mother thought their silence and rather wild appear- 
ance was owing to their having fallen asleep on the 
piazza, and they were not yet fully awake. She sup- 
posed they had become very tired, as children often 
do at school, and she advised them to go to bed and 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


33 


sleep it off, and they would wake in the morning as 
bright as ever. 

They did as their mother told them, each one 
thinking about what had happened, and hardly 
knowing whether it was a reality or a dream. Every- 
thing was so clear and vivid in their minds, they 
thought it must be a reality, and yet they were not 
quite sure. Each one looked in the mirror to see 
if there was any appearance of spectacles about 
their eyes; but they could discover none. They 
opened and shut them, but they could perceive no 
difference from their ordinary state, either in appear- 
ance or feeling, or in their ability to see, and they 
both concluded it must have been a dream. They 
resolved, however, to talk it over with each other in 
the morning, and see whether it Was a dream or 
not. For it would not be possible for both to 
dream exactly the same thing ; and with this resolu- 
tion they both went to bed, and slept soundly until 
morning. 


34 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


CHAPTER II. 

WAS IT A DREAM OR REALITY ? DETERMINATION TO 

TEST IT. TOM JONES. THE FIRST TRIAL. ITS 

RESULTS. — SECOND TRIAL. DOUBTS. FINAL SUCCESS. 

As soon as they saw each other in the morning, 
George said to Clara : — 

“ Did I go to sleep last night on the piazza \ ” 
“ I don’t know,” replied Clara. “Did I?” 

“ I don’t know,” said George. “ Either you did, 
or I did, or we both did, or we did not.” 

“ That is very evident,” replied Clara. “ I think 
you must have been looking through magical 
glasses, to see anything so clearly.” 

“ Magical glasses ! ” said George. “ What do 
you know about magical glasses ? ” 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


35 


“ Know ? ” said Clara. “ Didn’t tlie old black- 
berry woman change into an old man, who was a 
great magician, or a beantifnl fairy ; and didn’t the 
blackberries become magical spectacles ; and didn’t 
the great magician, or beantifnl fairy, put the specta- 
cles into onr eyes, instead of giving us the black- 
berries to put into onr mouths ? Didn’t he tell ns 
that they would help us to see everything, and do 
everything ? Either he did, or he didn’t, or 1 
dreamed it.” 

“ Did you dream it, or was it really so ? ” asked 
George, with much earnestness. 

“ Yes,” replied Clara. 

“ You provoking girl,” said George ; “ now tell me 
truly.” 

“ Did you see the old man, or did you not ? Did 
he give you a pair of magical spectacles, or did he 
not ? ” asked Clara. 

“Yes,” said George; and they both laughed 
aloud at their mutual ignorance and confusion. 


36 


TIIE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ But honestly,” said George, “ either an old man 
did give, or pretend to give, me a pair of magical 
spectacles, or I dreamed it.” 

And Clara replied : “ Honestly, either an old man. 
did give, or pretend to give, me a pair of magical 
spectacles, or I dreamed it ; but which I cannot tell.” 

After much mutual explanation and discussion, 
they found that they had both dreamed exactly 
the same dream, or that an old man had really 
appeared to them, and pretended to give each one 
of them a pair of magical glasses. But which it 
was, they could not exactly tell. 

“ There is one way,” said George, “ by which we 
can tell whether it w T as a dream or not, and I pro- 
pose we try it.” 

“ What is that ? ” said Clara. 

“ We will do just what the old man told us to, 
and then we can tell whether there is anything in it 
or not. Will you?” 

“ Y es,” said Clara, “ for if we have such a won- 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 37 

derful present, it would be too bad not to derive any 
benefit from it.” 

So they went to school, each one musing on the 
dream, or the real appearance of a fairy, they hardly 
knew which. There was something so interesting 
in the thought that they might have come into 
possession of such a wonderful gift, that they were 
strongly inclined to think it could not be all a dream, 
and they both determined to follow the directions. 
Certainly no harm could come from doing this, and 
if there was any truth in it, they were very fortu- 
nate children indeed. 

On his way to school, George overtook Tom 
Jones. The moment he saw him, he called out, 
“ Hello, Tom ! stop, I want to tell you something.” 

“Well, what is it?” said Tom, as George came 
running up. “ Want me to show you how to do a 
sum ? ” 

“Ho, not yet; I want to tell you that I have 
found you out.” 


3 


38 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


a Found me out? What do you mean by that? 
What have you found out t ” 

“ I have found out how you always get your sums 
in arithmetic.” 

“If you have,” Tom replied, “perhaps you will 
know how to get yours, and will not come to me for 
help any more. But how is it ? ” 

“ I know who helps you,” said George. 

“You do! Well, who is it? I should like to 
know, myself,” said Tom, in a half-mocking tone. 

“ Well, I can tell you. It is the old man who sells 
magical spectacles, that show how to do everything.” 

“What nonsense! You are joking. You must 
have eaten something funny for breakfast.” 

“Ho, indeed, I am not in fun, but in solemn 
earnest. And you need not deny it now, for I saw 
the old man, and he told me so himself. He said 
he knew you very well ; that he gave you a pair of 
magical spectacles, and that that was the reason you 
saw through your sums so quick.” 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


39 


“ Well, if that is so, I advise yon to get a pair, and 
wear them, too,” said Tom, with a good-natured smile. 

“ I did get a pair,” said George, “ and I intend to 
wear them, or else I dreamed I did.” 

“Don’t you know whether it was a dream or 
not?” 

“ No, I don’t. If it was a dream, it was a very 
strange one, and so much like reality that I cannot 
tell whether it was a dream or not. And besides, if it 
was a dream, Clara and I dreamed exactly the same 
dream, the same night.” 

“ That was queer,” said Tom, showing more inter- 
est than he had done before. “ But I should think 
you would know whether yo.u had the spectacles or 
not. Let’s see them. Put them on if you have them.” 

“ That’s the mischief of it,” said George. “ lie 
said we could not see them, and that they were not 
worn on the nose, but on the inside of the eyes.” 

“Well, that’s a funny place to wear spectacles,” 
said Tom ; “ of course you dreamed it. I guess the 


40 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


only way yon will ever get any lessons by tlie help of 
such spectacles will be by dreaming them out. But 
if you don’t get them, the scolding you will catch 
won’t be a dream ; and the examination won’t be a 
dream, either, you may be sure of that.” 

“ But didn’t the old man give you a pair ? ” asked 
George, with much earnestness. “ He told me he 
did.” 

“ I don’t know any tiling about any old man. But 
I’ve got a fairy worth two of yours, and a pair of 
spectacles worth a dozen of yours.” 

“ What are they, and where did you get them ? ” 

“ My spectacles are my two good eyes, and my 
fairy is patience and hard work,” said Tom. “ But 
come on. We must hurry to school, or we shall find 
a fairy that is not so very fair, who has a wand that 
Jim Tinker did not think was a dream, the other day. 
I’ll bet a cent he will make a pair of spectacles of us 
that can be seen, and that will not be a very pleasant 
sight, either, if we don’t hurry on.” 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


41 


George was well aware of this, and the boys ran on 
together, reaching the school-house just as the last 
bell was ringing. George went to his seat, took his 
books out of his satchel, put everything in its place, 
and prepared to go to work with his new spectacles, 
or no spectacles, he did not know which. 

The sum which he had tried, in vain, to do the 
night before, was still on his slate. He looked at 
the long rows of figures, and the wrong answer, and 
thought to himself, “ How I will try to do my best, 
and I shall very soon find out whether the magic 
spectacles are a dream or not. Wouldn’t it be 
glorious if the old man should prove to be a reality, 
and the spectacles as magical and useful as he de- 
scribed them ! I would show the boys a thing or 
two ! ” 

He rubbed out his figures and began anew. 

“ Let us see,” said he. u What did the old man 
say % We must do ‘ one thing at a time ; 5 ‘be 
patient and persevere.’ Well, that’s not bad ad- 


42 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


vice, anyhow, spectacles or no spectacles, and I 
will give it atrial. ‘One thing at a time.’ Well, 
then, I will be sure to see what the sum is before 
trying to do it. Yesterday, I remember, I worked 
a long time on a sum, and could not get the answer ; 
and when I took it to Tom, he said, ‘ Why, you 
little fool, you haven’t the right sum. You’ve got 
a part of two sums.’ And sure enough, I had. I 
wonder if I did not make some such blunder 
last night.” 

He began to read over the sum very carefully, 
word by word, sentence by sentence. “ There,” he 
said to himself, “ I did make a mistake ; I thought 
that four. was a seven. Thank you, old gentleman ; 
you have helped me some already ! ” He read the 
sum over twice, very carefully, and then set it down 
on his slate, comparing figure with figure. “ One 
thing at a time,” thought he. “Yes, that’s so. 
Well, now I must multiply by that great number 
of figures. How many are there? Nine. Oh, 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 43 

clear ! I can never clo it, and get every one right. 
I shall he snre to make some mistake, I know. 
But, ‘ One thing at a time.’ ‘ Patience.’ That 
is what my fairy said. Well, now, here goes. 
‘ One thing at a time.’ ” And he began to multiply 
with great care, and kept on until he had mul- 
tiplied by every one of the nine figures in the 
multiplier. 

“ Not so great a task, after all,” thought he. 
“ But now I must add them up. That’s a big job. 
I am afraid I shall make some mistake. But, £ one 
thing at a time’ and 6 persevere.’ Oh, yes. Well, 
now go ahead. Nine and two are eleven. That’s 
easy. c One thing at a time.’ IIow’s that, my 
fairy ? That rule won’t always work ; I must take 
two at a time when I add.” 

So he went on joking with the old man, as though 
he was present, and almost before he was aware of it, 
the columns were added up. u I’ll bet you that is 
right. W ell, now , c one thing at a time.’ What next ? 


44 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


Oh, botheration ; I have got to divide, and I always 
make mistakes in division. But, go ahead is the 
word, and go ahead it is.” 

He went through with his division with the great- 
est care, hut much sooner than he expected. By 
being careful to take one step at a time, and to think 
of only one thing at a time, he did not get pnzzled, 
as he sometimes did. Every step was distinct and 
clear. “I do believe there is something in the 
spectacles,” thought he. u Take care, Tom Jones, I 
will show you that my fairy is no dream, yet.” 

“ How, wdiat’s the next step ? £ Look sharp.’ Oh, I 
see, as clear as day.” And he went on as gayly as 
though he was at play. As he approached the end, 
however, he began to tremble, he was so much excited. 
“ If it does come out right, I shall begin to believe 
there is really something in the spectacles.” When 
he got the first figure in the last step, he was almost 
afraid to look at the answer. He opened his book, 
and glanced sideways at it, as though he wished to 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


45 


catch a glimpse of it. A full view would be too great 
a disappointment if it was not right. 

“ Three, three, as sure as you are alive. Ho, ho, 
my little gentleman, thank you! But you had 
better not crow till you are out of the woods. Two, 
• — two. That’s the way to do it. I’ll bet an eggshell 
against a million of dollars that the next figure 
will be right. Who takes the bet ? Six, six. That’s it. 
The eggshell is mine, and the million of dollars I’ll 
take when my fairy gives them to me. How for the 
next. Bight. Good for you. Who says I can’t 
see ? ” 

So he rattled on to himself in an excited, jubilant 
manner, until he came to the last figure. “ There it 
is, all right. Spec-ta-eles, spec-ta-cles,” he cried 
in thought, imitating the prolonged cry he had 
heard the night before. “ Yes, sir. I can see a 
thing or two as well as the next man, if he is blind.” 

Exulting with his success, he did one sum after 
another, without making a mistake. He seemed to 


46 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


be able to see right through them the moment he 
looked at them, and he could multiply and divide, and 
perform all the operations, with the greatest accuracy 
and rapidity. He had now come to the last sum. 
When he had read it over he thought, “Ah, there’s a 
tough fellow for you ! The boys all said nobody in 
the class could do that sum but Tom Jones. How 
let us see. £ One thing at a time.’ There’s the first 
step. That is clear enough. So’s the next. Ah, 
there’s that compound fraction, and those mixed 
numbers. But one thing at a time, and perhaps I 
shan’t get mixed. I will begin it, and go as far as 1 
can. How, spectacles, show your magic ! ” 

He put down tl^e sum and began. When he came 
to a difficult point, he examined it carefully, and in a 
little while it would grow clear. “ That’s the spec- 
tacles ! ” he would say to himself, when he saw 
clearly how to proceed. But with all his care, the 
answer did not come out right. George had been so 
delighted with his unexpected success, and had begun 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


47 


to feel so sure that he could do anything by the aid 
of his wonderful gift, that he felt much disap- 
pointed, and he began to fear that it was a dream, 
after all. But “persevere,” was one part of the 
directions he remembered, and he commenced the 
sum again. 

“ That is right ; that must be so. No mistake 
there. Let us see. Eyes bright, magical friends ! 
I do believe I divided when I ought to have multi- 
plied. I’m sure I did. You failed me that time, my 
little man. But I will give you another chance.” 

lie corrected his mistake and went on. Every 
step looked clearer. He could see far enough ahead, 
to know that he would come somewhere near' the 
answer, and he went on exultingly. Before he got 
through he was making figures with a perfect fury. 
His fingers were flying, and he wished he could make 
them fly twice as fast. 

“There it is. Bight, sir, exactly right. Not 
a fraction wrong,” and he brought his fist down 


48 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


upon his slate, so hard that he nearly broke it. 
“ Thank yon, my fairy. You’re a beauty. Spec-ta- 
cles ! spec-ta-cles ! ” and he prolonged the sound in 
imagination to the greatest length. 

He was aroused from his exultation, by a call to 
the class to come to recitation. “Is it possible,” 
he thought, “that it is time to recite? How fast 
the time has passed away ! ” 

He saw that Tom Jones was looking at him with 
a quiet smile on his face, as though he was think- 
ing, “ I guess you have found out that your dream 
about the magical spectacles has not helped you 
much.” 

Some of the boys had worked out nearly all the 
sums ; but no one of them, who had been asked, had 
been able to get the last one. 

“Well, George, how is it with you?” asked the 
teacher, in a tone which indicated that he did not 
expect he had done all the sums. “ How many did 
you get ? ” 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


49 


c I did them all, Sir,” he replied with promptness, 
and a glow upon his face that showed his excite- 
ment. 

“ Did you work out the last one ? ” 

“ Yes, Sir, I have just finished it. Here it is on 
my slate now.” 

“Perhaps you can do it on the blackboard, then,” 
the teacher said, with some incredulity in his man- 
ner. 

“ Yes, Sir, I think I can,” answered George. 

The boys all looked suprised, but none of them 
more so than Tom Jones. George had been in the 
habit of going to Tom for assistance, and Tom had 
good-naturedly given him many a lift. He had been, 
as George told Clara, his fairy, to assist him in his 
difficulties. Tom was, therefore, much surprised 
to find that he had done a sum without his assistance 
which no other boy in the class, except himself, 
could do. 

George took his place at the blackboard and 


50 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


worked out the problem correctly, explaining every 
step clearly as he went along. There could be no 
doubt about it. He did understand it. Tom began 
to think that there was magic about it somewhere, 
and George was so elated that his eyes fairly shone. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 51 

' :\y 


CHAPTER III. 

* 

A NEW TEST. — DESPAIR.— SUCCESS. 

As soon as they were out of the door, at recess, 
Tom ran np to George, and cried out, “ Who showed 
you how to do that sum ? ” 

“ My fairy,” said George, with great glee. “ The 
magic spectacles helped me to see right through it. 
What do you think now? Was it a dream, or a 
reality ? My fairy is the boy ! The funny old gentle- 
man ! Spec-ta-cles,” he cried out at the top of 
his voice. 

“Oh fudge! ” said Tom, “I know you got some- 
body to help you, or you never could have done 
that sum.” 


52 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


44 And so I did,” said George. 44 It was my fairy. 
It was the magic spectacles. And you must have a 
pair too, or you could not have done it, and you 
needn’t deny it. You needn’t be so sly about it, I 
have found you out at last. How own up.” 

“I don’t know anything about your fairies, and 
your magic spectacles. I get my sums by hard work, 
and I guess you will find that you will have to get 
yours in the same way. Your fairy will not amount 
to much after all. Let us see how you will get 
along in your geography. Wonder if your specta- 
cles will help you to find the places on the map, and 
pronounce the hard names, and remember them too. 
I’ll bet you will come to me before night and say : 
4 Oh Tom, do show me where that city is.’ 4 How 
do you pronounce that jaw-breaking name ? ’ ” 

44 Well, perhaps I shall,” said George. 44 If I do, 
you will be my fairy, as you have been so often 
before. But honestly, now, I do believe there is 
something in it. I’m sure I never saw through any 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 53 

sums so clearly before, not even when you showed 
me.” 

The bell rang before Tom had time to make any 
reply, and they went back into the school-house. 

Tim next lesson to be learned was in geography, 
and it was a very hard one too. George always 
found the greatest difficulty in committing his lessons 
to memory. Indeed, he thought it was impossible 
for him to commit a long verse in his geography, or 
any other study, to memory. So fully convinced 
was he of this lack of power, that he always failed 
when his success depended upon it. He would some- 
times try to learn a verse or a rule by heart ; but he 
failed so often, when he came to recitation, that he 
had about given up trying. He would read over the 
task a few times in a careless way, while his 
thoughts were on something else, and trust to good 
luck to get through the recitation as he could. 

As soon as he opened his book, the old feeling of 

the impossibility of learning his lesson came over 
4 


54 : 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


him. The subject was a general description of South 
America. It was a review. But he had never 
learned it, and he had never believed that it was 
possible for him to do it. He was frightened at the 
hard names, and the great length of the lesson. His 
first thought was to close his book and not attempt 
such an impossible task. But the spectacles, and his 
wonderful success in his arithmetic, came hoirie to 
him with great force. “ If I can learn that lesson,” 
he thought, “I am sure that there must be some 
wonderful power in the spectacles.” He was almost 
afraid to try, for fear that his hopes might prove to 
be all a delusion ; and that he had succeeded in get- 
ting his sums more by some happy accident than by 
any new power from the spectacles. But he had 
learned one lesson which was so hard that no one of 
his companions, or his teacher, supposed it possible 
for him to get, and he might succeed again. 

He looked over the long array of hard names, and 
the great amount that he must commit to memory, and 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


55 


he felt that it was nearly impossible to succeed, 
without some unusual aid. With this feeling, he 
began and read the lesson all over two or three 
times, and then shut the book to see if he could 
remember any of it. But he could not repeat the 
first line, even. He tried the same process again, 
with no better success. The names of rivers and 
mountains were all jumbled up in his mind, and the 
words seemed to jump around and change at every 
turn of his thoughts, like the colors in a kaleidoscope. 

“ I knew I could not do it,” he said to himself in 
a kind of despair, “ and there is no use in trying. 
I must get something more powerful than my in- 
visible spectacles, before I can remember such a 
lesson as that. I shall have to get a magical mem- 
ory. Perhaps the spectacles are good for nothing to 
assist in remembering. They may only help one to 
see. If that is so, there is not much use in them 
after all.” 

Then he began to think over what the little man 


56 


TEE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


had said to him, and what directions he had given 
him about the manner of using them. 

“He told me I ‘could not see everything .at 
first.’ That is very true. And that I ‘must not be 
discouraged.’ But I am discouraged. I have failed 
in that particular, certainly. I must have patience. 
I don’t see why he could not have given me the 
patience, as well as the spectacles, or else have 
given me some spectacles that would not require any 
patience. ‘ One thing at a time,’ that was first-rate 
advice in the arithmetic. I wonder if it would not 
do as well in geography. Perhaps the spectacles 
can see only one thing at a time. Perhaps they 
are like photographs. We have to hold still until 
there is time to make an impression, or else every- 
thing becomes confused. The lesson seems to me 
some like the photograph of Charles, Willie, and 
the baby. They kept bobbing around so that their 
heads and hands all ran into each other, and you 
cannot tell which is which. ‘ One thing at a time.’ 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 57 

Well, I will try that. Come, spectacles, brighten 
up and look as sharp as you can.” 

George read over the first sentence, in the first 
verse, and counted the words. There were just six 
in it. He looked carefully at every word, and 
thought what it meant. He could remember what 
others told him well enough, but he could not 
learn the words from a book. The thought suddenly 
occurred to him : u I will make South America 
speak, and then I can remember what she has ta 
say for herself.” 

“ Come, Madam. What have you to say for 
yourself ? Speak up, but . don’t talk too fast. 
Oh, yes, I hear ; ” and he read over the first sentence 
again, and then shut his eyes, as if listening. “ I can 
remember that, and I will inform my teacher. How, 
what more ? ” He then read the next sentence, 
with great care and attention, and again shut his 
eyes as if listening. “ I don’t think I quite under- 
stand you. There is one word a little too long and 


58 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


hard. Please to explain its meaning. ‘ Go to 
the dictionary,’ shall I? Well, just as you 
say. But I think I have heard that advice 
before.” 

He looked up the meaning of the word, spelled it 
very carefully, and found the right pronunciation. 
Then he read over the sentence again, and, assuming 
his former character of listener, he shut his eyes, and 
said, “ Please, Madam, make that statement again. 
Oh! thank you, I understand it now perfectly. 
Please to go on.” 

He read the next sentence in the same manner, 
looking sharply at every word, until he could see 
exactly how it looked, with his eyes closed. 
He then read over the whole verse, and carrying on 
his imaginary conversation, he said : “ Will you- be so 
kind as to repeat to me the message you wish me to 
deliver to my teacher ; I am very anxious to get it 
correct.” Then he repeated it to himself. “ That’s 
right, is it ? You think I have an excellent memory ? 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


59 


Thank you for the compliment. How I am 
ready to hear anything else you have to say.” 

In this way he went on to the next verse. He be- 
came interested in this imaginary conversation, and 
it seemed to grow more and more real. He looked 
at the words, as if some one was really speaking to 
him, and every faculty of his mind became awake 
and active. When he came to a hard word, he 
would examine every letter in it. He would ask it 
questions, such as, “ What do you say ? ” “ What’s 
your name ? ” “ Excuse me, will you please to speak 
it again.” 

As soon as he had learned the second verse, he put 
himself into a listening attitude, and repeated the 
two without looking at the book or making a mis- 
take. * Fifteen minutes before, he supposed such a 
feat was impossible. “You say that’s right? and 
that I am getting along very well ? You are pleased 
to have so attentive a listener? Thank you, I’ll 
do the best I can to serve you. Have you anything 




60 THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 

more to say ? I ’have heard that yon have some 
very remarkable mountains. I think my teacher 
would like to know something about them.” 

He then studied all that was said in the lesson about 
the mountains. He spelled the names carefully, 
and tried to fix in his memory their height and length, 
and every particular that was stated. He frequently J 
made comments aiid asked imaginary questions as 
he went along. “You have very high mountains; 
plenty of back-bone. Gold and silver; I should 
not object, if you should send me a few millions. 
Diamonds, too ! W ell, you are rich ! I’ll take 
a handful, if you please. Ho ? Haven’t any to 
spare? Wouldn’t do me any good? Well, perhaps 
not. But, I beg to differ with you on that point. 
You think I had better hear what you have to say 
about your rivers ? Y ery well ; I agree to that ; my 
teacher is fond of water, and he will be delighted to 
hear that you have a plenty of it.” 

He now commenced studying the rivers. The 




THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


61 


names were strange, and lie found nmcli difficulty 
in remembering them. But his mind was thoroughly 
aroused. He spelled them, compared them, and tried 
to form a picture of them in his own mind. “ You 
have a plenty of water, but it’s a very dry subject, 
after all. Couldn’t you have found some prettier 
names ? I think names must have been scarce when 
your rivers were christened. * Good enough ? 
You think them very sweet and easy to speak? ’ It 
may be so. But there are too many x’s, y’s and z’s to 
suit me. Please to pronounce this jaw-breaker 
again ! Thank you ; I think I can do it now.” 

In this way he went through the whole lesson. 
He became so much interested that he forgot all 
about the school, and everything else but his lesson. 
He now repeated the whole that he had learned 
from the beginning, and found he could do it with- 
out making a mistake. Whether it was the specta- 
cles or not, he did not know ; but he was quite sure 
that he could see the words, and understand and 


62 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


remember them, much better than he had ever been 
able to do before. It seemed so easy to repeat the 
hard words and long sentences, that he kept doing 
it for fun. He could rattle them off as fast as he 
could speak. He was astonished at himself. He 
had accomplished the impossible. 

The time had passed away without notice. The 
hour for recitation had come, and he was prepared. 

“ Thank you, Madam,” he said, carrying on the 
imaginary conversation; u it will give me great 
pleasure to tell my teacher all that you have said to 
me about yourself, and I think I can report it cor- 
rectly. I shall be very happy to see you again. But 
for the present, I must bid you good-morning.” 

His teacher and class-mates were no less surprised 
than he was himself at the manner in which he 
recited his lesson. They had never known him to 
do it so well before. There was a glow on his face, 
a brightness in his eyes, and an interest in the recita- 
tion, that they had never before seen. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


63 


When the school was out for the day, he ran up to 
Tom, and cried out : “ What do you think now, 
Tom, about the spectacles ? All a dream, are they ? ” 
“ I think,” said Tom, “ that you have really begun 
to study. I watched you, and I never saw you study 
so before. You hardly looked off your book, and 
when you did, you seemed to be thinking about 
your lesson. I saw you smile a number of times, but 
it did not seem to be at anything in the school.” 

“ Oh, no. I was talking with South America. 
A very interesting lady, I can tell you, though she 
has given her children some awful hard names.” 

“ With South America ! What do you mean ? ” 

“ Oh, nothing ! Only that with my magic specta- 
cles I could see Mrs. South America, and I had a 
very pleasant time with her. It is all the spectacles, 
Tom ; it is all the work of my fairy.” 

u All nonsense,” said Tom, with a good-natured 
laugh. 

“ I see you don’t believe it. But I know I couldn’t 


64 : 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


have learned that lesson in a month, if my fairy, or 
something else, had not helped me. I never conld 
remember anything before. But to-day it seemed as 
if I could see right through the words. They looked 
so bright, I know some new light shone upon them. 
I tell you it isn’t a dream. I am sure it isn’t. But 
I shall know to-night, when Clara comes home ; for 
if she has succeeded as well as I have, we shall know 
for certain that it is not a dream. But I must go 
home.” And shouting “ Spec-ta-cles, Spec-ta-cles,” he 
ran on, happy with the results of the day, and with 
the hopes awakened by the evidence that he had 
really found some magical power to assist him in 
getting his lessons. His imagination began to be 
tilled with bright visions of the future. He would 
become rich and learned and great, beyond any 
one who had ever lived. His life would be more 
wonderful than any of the stories in the Arabian 
Hights. 

His mother noticed that he was in fine spirits, as 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


65 


soon as he came into the house. “ I think you must 
have had a very pleasant day in school, George,” 
she said, “ and have learned your lessons well, for 
good lessons make school happy.” 

“ Yes, mother; I had every lesson perfectly, and 
we had some very hard ones, too. I did that long 
hard sum on the black-board, and there was not 
another boy in the class, but Tom Jones, who could 
do it.” 

“ I suppose he helped you, did he not \ ” asked 
his mother, with a quiet smile, as though she knew 
where he generally found his assistance. 

“No, mother, he did not help me a bit, neither 
did the teacher, nor any boy in school. But it is 
time for the ball-club to meet, and I must go, for 
if I don’t get there in season, I shall be lined.” 

His mother excused him, and he went away with 
a light heart. It will be noticed that he did not 
positively deny having received any assistance. 
He was not ready to tell his mother about the magic 


66 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


spectacles, for lie was not yet quite sure what to 
make of them himself. 

He had a very pleasant game of hall. He never 
played so well before. He made some fine runs, 
and one catch, which all the boys called splendid. 
He went home thinking it had been one of the 
pleasantest days of his life. He had not seen Clara 
yet, as she did not go to the same school, and she 
had not returned when he went to play ball. He 
longed to have tea ovel’, that he might get a chance 
to talk with her, and find out whether she had been 
as successful as he had. But we will put her first 
experience with the magic spectacles into the next 
chapter. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


67 


CHAPTER IV. 

THE CONFERENCE. THE MUSIC-LESSON. 

George determined not to tell Clara anything 
about his experience with the magic spectacles, until 
he had found out whether she had discovered any 
improvement in her ability to see and understand 
her lessons since the night before. He would pre- 
tend at first that there was nothing in it, and that 
they must have been dreaming. If Clara insisted 
that she could see better than usual, without know- 
ing his splendid success during the day, it would be 
the best kind of evidence of the reality of their won- 
derful gift. George went to the piazza first, a 
favorite resort for the children in warm summer 
evenings, and sat there musing on the events of the 


68 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


day, and waiting with some impatience for his 
sister. Clara joined him as soon as possible, for she 
was as eager to tell her own story as he was to hear it. 

“ Oh, George ! ” she exclaimed, as she came run- 
ning out. “ I do believe there is something in it ? 

“ In what ? ” he replied, pretending not to know 
what she referred to. 

“ In the magic spectacles, that our fairy gave us 
last night ; I know there is something in it. I never 
could see how to do things so well before in my life. 
They are such a help ! ” 

“ Oh, pshaw ! ” said George. “ You are just ma- 
king believe ! ” 

“ Ho, indeed, I am not. I know I can see better 
than I ever could before. Can’t you ? ” 

“ Didn’t I tell you last night that there were no 
such beings as fairies ? And even if there were, do 
you suppose they could put spectacles on the inside 
of our eyes ? How could they get them in ? ” 

“ It does seem strange. But you know fairies can 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


69 


do any tiling. The stranger it is, the more fairy-like. 
•There is nothing too hard for them to do.” 

“ Do you really think you can see any better than 
you could yesterday ? ” 

“ Yes, I know I can.” 

“ What makes you think so ? ” 

“Because I never could do before what I have 
done this afternoon.” 

“What have you done that is so remarkable? 
This is the day for your music lesson, isn’t it ? ” 

“ Yes ; you know how I hate it and never could 
understand it, and how cross Professor Gamutini, 
as you call him, is, and how I dread my lesson every 
time it comes ? ” 

“ Oh yes, I know all that very well. I’ve heard 
you grumble enough about it, to understand, with- 
out the aid of any magic spectacles, that you hate 
your music lesson. If you can seh how to like it, and 
how to play well, I shall think there must be some- 
thing in the spectacles.” 


5 


70 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


u It is about as bard for me to learn music as it is 
for you to learn geography, isn’t it ? ” 

Clara felt a little vexed that George should agree 
with her so fully about her dislike to music, and she 
could not refrain from touching him a little in one of 
his own sore places in return. George’s dislike to 
geography, and his inability to commit his lessons to 
memory, had often been the subject of discussion 
and sympathy between them. 

George winced a little at Clara’s thrust, but 
chuckled within, at the thought of his success in 
that iine, during the afternoon. He still adhered to 
,his purpose, however, to say nothing about his own 
experience until he had learned all about his sister’s. 

“ Well!” he replied, “I suppose you can play 
everything perfectly, by the aid of your magic spec- 
tacles ! ” 

“ Oh come, George,” she replied, “ don’t be so per- 
verse and foolish ! The fairy did not promise that 
they would help us to do everything right off. But 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


71 


I see you don’t believe there is anything in it, and 
don’t want to know anything about it, and so I will 
not trouble you.” So saying, she got up, as if to go 
back into the house. 

George saw he was carrying his unbelief a little 
too far. “ Don’t go,” he said, “I was only joking. 
Do tell me all about your lesson.” 

“Well, you may laugh .as much as you please. 
But I know there is something in the magic specta- 
cles.” 

“ How did they help you ? What did you do ? ” 
asked George. 

“ You know how I always get my music mixed 
up. The spaces hop over the lines, and the lines 
run into the spaces. The sharps get flat, and the 
flats become so sharp that I can’t see them, and there 
is nothing natural and easy about it. Sometimes I 
mistake the key in the book for the keys of the 
piano. Then the Professor cries out, ‘ De key, de 
key, Mees ! Why you not mind de key ? Where is 


72 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


de key. ? ’ I could see plenty of them in the piano, 
and when I looked down to find which one he wanted, 
he would exclaim, ‘ No, no, de key in de book, in de 
museek.’ Then I would look in the book, and after 
looking all over my lesson without finding any key, 
he would come to my help. c De key is in B,’ or A, 
or some other letter. That puzzled me still more, 
fori could find no such letters in the book. Then 1 
would strike the key, or I would use the wrong fin- 
ger, and finally everything would get so jumbled up, 
that I could do nothing but pound away at random. 
Oh dear ! how many times I have wushed the piano at 
the bottom of the ocean, and the Professor with it.” 

“Well, could you do any better to-day?” asked 
George. 

“ Oh yes. I got along so nicely to-day, that Prof. 
Gamutini did not scold me once, and when I had 
finished my lesson he made me a very polite bow 
and said, Wary goot, Mees. You have done as 
better as never before.’ ” 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


73 


“ How did you do it ? ” inquired George, with 
much interest. “ What helped you ? ” 

“ Why ! the spectacles, of course.” 

“ How did they do it ? Can’t you tell ? ” 

“Ho, I don’t believe I can. I could see the notes 
and keys better ; they did not get all mixed up ; and 
my fingers seemed to know how to strike the right 
ones.” 

“Your spectacles must have been in your fingers, 
then. I guess they worked down through your arms 
into the ends of your fingers. Didn’t you practise 
your lesson any in the morning \ ” 

“Yes, indeed I did; I practised it much longer 
than usual. But I shouldn’t have done it if it had 
not been for the spectacles ! ” 

“ Oh, nonsense ! ” exclaimed George ; “ how 

could they help you to practise ? ” 

“Well, I don’t know, but somehow the lesson 
seemed different; it was real fun to practise this 
morning, and I generally hate it. I did not look at 


74 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


the clock once, and mother says I generally jumpnp 
every five minutes. It seemed so pleasant this morn- 
ing, that I practised ten minutes longer than my 
time, and I didn’t know it until mother called me.” 

“ What made it pleasant ? ” 

“ The spectacles, I tell you. You won’t believe 
me.” 

“ I don’t see how the spectacles could make a 
lesson pleasant,” said George. 

“Neither do I,” said Clara. “But they did, be- 
cause they are the gift of a fairy, and have some 
magic in them.” 

“ They must have some wonderful power, if they 
could make you like music. But I think you could 
tell me something more about your lesson if you 
would try.” 

“ Well, let me see. When I sat down to the piano, 
I thought I would do the best I could to find out 
whether I had any magic spectacles or not. So I 
tried to remember what the little man said to us ; 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


75 

for yon know, if you don’t do just exactly as the 
fairies tell you, their gifts won’t have any 
charm. 

u Well, you know he said, ‘ Remember, and do one 
thing at a time.’ But there are so many things in 
music that it is almost impossible. First I thought I 
would learn on what lines and spaces the letters were, 
for I have never been quite sure about it, and 
when I begin to play I always make mistakes. 
I went over them a good many times. But still they 
were much confused, and I was beginning to get a 
little discouraged, when I thought I would try a 
new way of learning.” 

“ What was that ? ” asked George. 

“ I thought I would ask the lines and spaces what 
their number was, just as we ask each other when 
we are playing games.” 

George was much delighted at this, for it re- 
minded him of the plan he devised to learn his 
geography. 


76 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ So,” continued Clara, “ I asked the bottom line, 
‘ Where do you stand ? ’ And he answered, ‘ I 
stand first.’ 

“ 4 Who are your neighbors ? ’ 

“‘Miss First Space lives just above me, and her 
sister lives just below me on the other side.’ 

“ ‘ Who are you, sir ? ’ I said to the next line above. 

“‘Iam Mr. Second Line. I am stationed between 
Miss First and Miss Second Space, and it is as much 
as I can do to keep them apart.’ 

“ So I went through with all the lines and spaces, 
talking to them, and asking them questions, and I 
became so much interested in the conversation that 
sometimes it seemed as though they almost answer- 
ed them themselves. In a little while I could see 
the staff just as plainly with my eyes shut as with 
them open, and knew all about the lines and 
spaces.” 

“ That was a capital idea,” said George. “ If we 
could make our books talk to us, it would be easy 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


77 


enough to learn them. But how did you get along 
with the letters ? I should think it would be the 
hardest to remember their places on the staff.” 

“ So it is,” said Clara. “ But I made them tell 
me where they lived. First I asked Mr. A. 

“ 4 Well, Mr. A, how do you do ? 5 

“ 6 Pretty well, I thank you. Can I do anything 
for you to-day ? ’ 

“ ‘ Please to tell me where you live, I want to call 
upon you.’ 

“ ‘ I live in Second Space. Mr. B lives just above 
me, and Mr. G just below. You can easily find the 
place.’ So I went through with them all, and I 
really had a very nice chat with them. I asked them 
all sorts of questions, and answered them myself. It 
was real fun.” 

“ But that did not help you much about playing 
the notes,” said George. 

“I thought of a very funny way to connect the 
notes on the staff with the keys of the piano. 


78 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


44 Tlie first note was C. So I said, 4 Mr. C, will you 
be so kind as to tell me where you live ? 5 

44 4 Yes, with much pleasure. I always reside in 
Third Space, between Mr. B and Mr. D. I should 
be very happy to receive a call from you.’ 

44 4 How shall I get in ? 5 

44 4 You must ring the bell, by striking the key of 
the same name.’ 

44 So I rang the bell for one letter, and then 
another, pretending to call, until the key and the 
letter, and its place, became quite familiar. I was 
so much interested in my imaginary conversation, 
that the time passed away without my knowing it, 
and many things seemed so much clearer than they 
ever did before, that .1 am sure the spectacles must 
have helped me. 

44 1 went over my whole lesson in that w r ay, think- 
ing of one thing at a time, and looking at it very 
sharply until I could see it. Then I could play the 
notes much faster, and better, because I did not 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


79 


have to think of so many things at once. Prof. 
Gamntini was highly delighted. I should not be 
surprised if I became a great favorite with him, and 
music became a great favorite with me.” 

“ And you think the spectacles helped you to all 
this, do you ? ” said George. 

“ Yes, I know they did. I never should have 
thought of such a way of learning, in my life, if it had 
not been for them. I am sure I shall learn very fast 
now. It was no dream, I know it wasn’t.” 

“ How tell me about your eyes,” continued Clara: 
“ Can’t you see how to get your lessons any better 
than you could before? How did you get along 
with those hard sums in your arithmetic ? ” 

“ First-rate. Yes, I know there is something in 
the spectacles too. 1 never before learned such good 
lessons in my life, and they were real hard too.” 

“ Did you ? Oh, good ! Then it must be so. The 
old man must have been a real fairy, and a very 
good one too. How kind and pleasant he looked ! 


80 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


But do tell me all about your lessons. Could you 
learn your geogF&pliy ? ” 

“ Yes. It was just as easy as anything could be 
when I went to work in the right way. And what 
seems so queer, I contrived very much the same 
way to remember it, that you did to remember your 
music. I made Mrs. South America talk. I pre- 
tended she was telling me all about her rivers and 
mountains, and wanted me to tell the teacher. It 
must have been the wonderful spectacles that helped 
us to think of such a nice way. I learned my 
lessons as well as Tom Jones, and better than any 
other boy, besides him, in the class . 55 

“ Isn’t it splendid ? What did Tom say ? 55 

“ Oh, he laughed at me at first, when I told him 
that a fairy had given us some magical spectacles > 
or that we had dreamed it. Bor you know we were 
not quite sure which it was, in the morning. But 
when he found how well I had learned all my 
lessons, he didn’t know what to make of it. I told 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


81 


him it was all owing to the spectacles. But lie said 
it was because I studied so much better than usual.” 

“ What difference does that make ? ” asked Clara. 
“ If they help us to study, and show us how to get 
our lessons, it is all the same.” 

“ They help us to see, don’t they ? ” 

“ Yes, indeed they do, and they will help us 
about a great many other things ; because fairies 
can do almost everything.” 

“ Do you suppose they will show us how to get 
rich \ ” 

“ Yes, I am sure they will. Why shouldn’t they 
help us to see how to make money as well as to do 
anything else ? ” 

The experience of both the children confirmed 
them in the idea of the reality and preciousness of 
their gift, and they gave loose reins to their imagi- 
nations, in picturing the glorious results of so valua- 
ble a possession. Nothing was too good or too great 
for them to attain. 


82 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ Shall we tell mother ? ” asked Clara. 

“ No, not yet,” said George. “ Let ns wait until 
we are sure that there can be no mistake about it. 
Then we will surprise her by the great things we 
can do.” 

“But you don’t think there is any doubt about 
our having such spectacles, do you ? ” asked Clara, 
who could not bear the thought that there was any 
possibility of mistake about it. 

“ No,” George replied, “ I don’t think there is. 
But it is best to be sure, for if we should pretend we 
had such a gift, when we didn’t have it, and 
shouldn’t be able to see any better how to get our 
lessons or do anything than we did before, the boys 
and girls would tease us to death. I wish I hadn’t 
said anything to Tom Jones. But he pretended 
not to believe a word about it ; so it won’t make 
much difference.” 

“ Let us try to-morrow,” said Clara, “ and do the 
best we can. If we don’t try and do just as the 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


83 


spectacle-man told ns, he may be vexed and take 
them away from ns, and then it will be worse than 
if he had never given them to us.” 

a I am going to do it,” said George ; “ I’ll get 
ahead of Tom Jones yet. Wouldn’t that be fun? 
But if he has a pair too, I can’t do it, of course.” 

So the children talked on, telling what great 
things they would do ; how learned and great they 
would become, and what splendid things they would 
have, until it was time to go in and go to bed. 

They were both so much elated with the idea of 
possessing some magical power, that they could not 
get to sleep for a long time ; and then the old man 
with his little box, and wonderful visions of the 
knowledge and power they would obtain, filled their 
minds. They woke, however, bright and early in 
the morning, each one determined to do the best 
possible to prove the possession of such a wonderful 
gift. 


84 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


CHAPTER Y. 

A NEW PROOF. — SEWING. — IT IS A FACT. 

The next morning, as George was swinging his 
satchel of books upon his shoulder to go to school, 
Clara ran up to him and whispered in his ear — 

“Now, mind, and do the best you can, and to- 
night we will see if we are not sure of the magic 
spectacles.” 

“ Don’t you be afraid,” said George ; “ I guess there 
is more danger that you will fail than that I shall.” 

So saying, he hurried away, half shouting to him- 
self, “ Spec-ta-cles ! Spec-ta-cles ! Buy my spec- 
ta-cles ! I’m the boy for spectacles.” 

George and Clara both felt an interest in their 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


85 


studies which, they had never dreamed possible 
before ; not because they cared so much about learn- 
ing, but they desired to test, beyond all possibility 
of doubt, the reality of possessing some magical 
power, and there was still uncertainty enough about 
it to give the experiment an intense interest. 

As George was going along to school, thinking 
over the experience of the day before and almost 
dreading the test of another trial, Tom Jones over- 
took him. 

“ Well, Spectacles,” said he, addressing George, 
“ how do you come on ? ” 

“ First-rate,” said George, “ if by £ Spectacles 5 you 
mean me.” 

“ Who showed you how to do that sum yester- 
day ? ” 

“ Nobody, I did it myself.” 

“ I thought you had some magic spectacles, or 
some such nonsense, which helped you to see how to 
do things.” 


6 


86 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ Did you see any on my nose ? ” asked George. 
“ If you did, perhaps you know whether I had any 
or not.” 

“ Didn’t you say some old magician gave you a 
pair, and had given me a pair before ? ” 

George thought this was a good time to leave 
Tom in the dark about the matter. So he replied : 

“ Didn’t you say it was all nonsense ? Which 
will you believe, me or yourself \ ” 

“ I shall believe myself, of course, until I see the 
wonderful glasses on your nose, and you peering 
through them, like old Mr. Scribble.” 

Mr. Scribble was their writing teacher, and he was 
so near-sighted that he wore glasses, and then stuck 
his nose down almost to the paper. 

“ You may believe it or not, just as you please,” 
said George. “Perhaps I was only joking yes- 
terday.” 

“ That was what I thought at first,” said Tom ; 
“ but you seemed so much in earnest about it, that I 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


87 


was sure somebody liad been humbugging or mes- 
merizing you, or something of that sort. If you get 
your lessons as well to-day as you did yesterday, it 
will be a magical change in you, certainly.” 

By this time the boys had reached the school- 
house, and the bell was just ringing for the school to 
commence. They took their places ; the roll was 
called, and the work of the day began. 

As George took his books from his satchel his 
hands trembled, and his heart sunk within him for 
a moment at the thought that he might be dis- 
appointed, after all. But he soon roused up his 
courage and determined to do his best. He recalled 
the directions for the use of the spectacles. “ One 
’thing at a time.” “ Look sharp,” and “ Persevere.” 

“ Well,” he thought, “ they helped me splendidly 
yesterday, and I will try them again to day.” 

He took his slate, opened his arithmetic, and read 
over the lesson. To his amazement he found it 
consisted of miscellaneous examples, and he was 


88 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


quite sure he should fail unless he had some help 
from his spectacles or something else. He read 
over the first example. It was not a very hard one, 
and he worked it out quite easily. This encouraged 
him, and he went to work at the next with more 
confidence. This was more difficult, and at the first 
reading he did not see how to do it. 

“ Stop,” he said to himself, “ I am going too fast, 
I am not obeying the rule, 6 One thing at a time.’ 
There’s the first step ; that is easy enough. How 
I see the second,” and he began to make the figures 
more rapidly. “ So far, so good. How I have 
come against a stump. Don’t get confused and 
blur the spectacles. Let me see. Ah, that’s it. 
Ho, it is not. Yes, it is. That is right, as sure’ 
as my name isn’t Tom Jones.” 

So he went on from one to another, becoming 
more and more excited and confident by his success. 
He really seemed to have new light, and a new 
power of looking through his sums and understand- 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


89 


ing them. And his success gave him so much 
pleasure, that he worked on for very delight. He 
had now obtained answers to all the sums but the 
last, which, as usual, was much the hardest, and 
taxed all his powers, and those of the spectacles 
also. He tried it several times without success. 
But it yielded at last to his wonderful power, and 
the answer came out right. He had been so absorb- 
ed in his study that he forgot w T here he was, and 
he came very near crying out at the top of his voice, 
“ Spec-ta-cles ! ” The hissing sound of the s was 
just beginning to flow from his lips, when he 
recollected himself in time to prevent the tumult 
which such an explosion would have made. With 
a lialf-frightened and triumphant look he closed 
his arithmetic, took a long breath, and commenced 
another lesson. 

He went through the day as successfully as he 
had done the day before. All his lessons were 
well learned and well recited. His teacher and class- 


90 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


mates were all much surprised, for he had never 
done so well before. 

George was not a bad boy. But he was very 
playful, impatient, and easily discouraged. For these 
reasons he rarely had perfect lessons, unless they 
were very easy, or some one helped him. He had 
failed so often, that he had come to think it was im- 
possible for him to do anything that was very diffi- 
cult, and he would not try. But the idea of the 
spectacles put new courage into his heart and gave 
him a new power. He left the school -house in high 
glee, delighted with his continued success, and the 
evidence it gave him of possessing some marvellous 
power. 

Clara was not less successful, though in a very 
different way. She had nothing in the nature of 
study, except to practise her music lesson an hour. 
After the experience of the day before, she did not 
go to it with the same dread and dislike as formerly. 
On the contrary, she rather longed to have the hour 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


91 


of practice come, that she might call upon her 
friends, the notes, who lived in the various lines and 
spaces, and give her new method of learning another 
trial. She found she could remember her lesson 
much better than ever before. Her careful attention 
to the lines and spaces, and the names of the notes 
on them ; the comparison of one with another, and 
the living interest excited by making them talk to 
her, had so fixed them in her memory that she 
found no difficulty in recalling them. The hour 
passed pleasantly away, and she was surprised when 
her mother called her to find the time had been so 
short. 

How she was to put the reality of her possession 
of a magical power to another and severer test. 

Clara was a quick, nervous, and restless girl, and 
all kinds of confinement and patient attention to 
little things were very irksome to her. Sewing was 
her especial dislike. She had not the patience to 
take stitch after stitch, to make them even, and 


92 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


keep her work straight. Her mother, however, 
thought it necessary for her to learn to sew, and a 
part of two days in the week was spent in doing it. 

“ How,” she thought, “ if I can see how to do my 
sewing well, and can learn to like it, I shall know 
for certain that I have some new and magical 
power.” She took up her work with more interest 
than usual, though it was more difficult and trying 
than she had ever attempted before. 

Her mother prepared her work for her ; told 
her how to do it, and cautioned her to be patient 
and do it as nicely as she could. 

“ How I shall need my spectacles,” she said to 
herself, “ and I must remember how to use them. 
‘ One thing at a time.’ . That is certainly good 
advice in sewing. ‘ Look sharp.’ That I must do 
or I shall get the stitches long and short, and 
crooked, and every way. It is easy enough to take 
one stitch ; but I am sure her next neighbor will be 
too near or too far off, or too much on one side.” 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


93 


She threaded her needle, and took the first stitch, 
hut the thread came clear through. She had forgot- 
ten to tie a knot in the end of it. 

“ There’s a mistake, to begin with,” she said, and 
a feeling of impatience began to rise in her mind. 

“ There are so many things to think of and do 
that I shall never remember them all. ‘ One 
thing at a time.’ Well, I will try again. It is not 
so easy to take the first stitch as I thought it was. 
There ; I have certainly got a knot in the end of my 
thread now ; ” and she tried again, and failed again. 
The knot was not well tied, and it pulled out. 

“ Oh, dear,” she said to herself, “ I shall not even 
make a beginning to-day. But, £ patience.’ £ Don’t 
get excited.’ Ah, dear old man, why didn’t you 
give me spectacles that had patience in them, and 
then I should never get excited. But I will try 
once more.” 

She now tied the knot very carefully, and it held. 
“ There is one stitch, and I might just as well have 


91 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


taken it right the first time, if I had only thought. 
Well, better luck next time. Now for the next. 
Don’t get too near your neighbor ; she is number one, 
and she don’t like to have people too familiar witli 
her. And don’t get too far off ; if you do she will 
think you intend to slight her, and that will hurt her 
feelings. That will do. It is just about right. 
Now I will try again.” 

The third stitch was too far off. u Oh, you 
mustn’t run away. Don’t be afraid, of your 
neighbors, they won’t hurt you.” 

The fourth was taken with more care, and was 
just right. So she went on for some time. The 
stitches were even, and the seam was quite 
straight. 

Clara examined carefully all that she had done, 
and then said : 

u The spectacles do help ; I can see better, I am 
sure ; I never sewed so well as that before.” 

As she was examining her work, and thinking 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


95 


about ber success, her mother entered the room, and 
coming up to Clara, said pleasantly : 

“ How are you getting along to-day ? ” 

“ Pretty well, I think, mamma,” she replied, and 
held out her work for her mother to examine. 

“ Yes,” she said, handing it back to her, “ you are 
sewing very neatly ; I hope you will do it all as well.” 

“ How much must I do to-day, mamma ? 
Haven’t I done nearly enough \ ” 

“Ho, you must sew up those three seams.” 

“ Oh, mamma, I can never do that, I am sure ; see 
how long they are !.” and she held up her work 
with a look of despair. 

“Well, you must try, and if you do, you can 
finish them easily enough.” 

Clara knew she would have to do it, and she 
might as well begin. But it seemed to be an almost 
impossible task. She thought she would see how 
many stitches it would take. So she counted the 
number in the length of her longest finger, and then 


v 


96 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


measured the length of the seams by it. She found 
it would take just two hundred and fifty. 

“ I am sure I cannot do that in the whole day. 
Two hundred and fifty ! and I have taken only 
twenty-five in all this time. There is no use in try- 
ing to do so much. Why didn’t the fairy give me 
some power, so that I could just say, ‘ Be sewed ! ’ 
and it would all be beautifully done in a moment ? 
The spectacles are not much, after all ! Fairies 
ought to do everything for us ! ” 

“That would do you no good,” came into her 
mind so quick and clear, that she looked round, 
thinking the old man must have spoken it. “ ‘ One 
thing at a time.’ ‘ Don’t be discouraged.’ He did 
say that,” she thought. “ But there is no magic 
in ‘ One thing at a time ! ’ c One thing at a time ! ’ 
But I must do it, magic or no magic.” 

So saying, she commenced sewing, at the same 
time carrying on a running conversation with the 
stitches and the spectacles. 


. THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


07 


“ Now, Spectacles, do help me.” 

They seemed to say, “ Don’t get excited and 
blur ns. If you do we can’t see. One stitch at a 
time. Be patient, and look sharp.” 

“Well, I’ll try. There’s one made, and one less 
to take.” 

“ £ Yes, and I am a very good stitcfi too.’ 

“ ‘ So you are,’ said the spectacles. ‘ Now try 
again, Miss.’ 

“ Oh, I can take one or two easy enough, but 
think of two hundred and fifty.” 

“ You have not two hundred and fifty to take. 
Only two hundred and forty-nine.” 

“ That is so, and I will make the number much 
less than that soon.” 

She now went to work in earnest. “ Forty- 
eight.” “ Forty.” “ Thirty.” “ Twenty-five.” The 
spectacles said : “ Bravo ! You are getting along 

nicely. Not too fast. Take care. There will soon be 
only two hundred. £ One at a time,’ has magic in it.” 


98 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ I do believe it has,” said Clara, almost aloud. 
“Are you talking to me, Spectacles? 55 — “ Yes, we 
are. And if you don’t get impatient, and excited so 
we can’t see, we will show you how to finish your 
work in a short time.” 

“ Well, I will try. You shall have a fair chance.” 

By ceasing to think of the difficulty and the amount 
of her work, she could direct her whole attention to 
what she was doing. Her fingers became more 
nimble, and she could direct the needle with more 
care. The stitches grew in number, and became 
more regular. She was soon upon the last hundred, 
and the distance to the end rapidly diminished. 

“ There is magic in 6 patience 5 and, £ one thing at 
a time, 5 55 she said. 

“I told you so,” said the spectacles. “ And 
everything I say will always prove true.” 

“ Then you will be the best kind of a fairy gift.” 

“ Fifty, Twenty-five. Almost there, am I? 
Yes indeed, a few more. There you are. It 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


99 


is done. There is magic in patience, and perse- 
verance and the spectacles ! ” 

She took her work and was carrying it to her 
mother, who was in another room, busy about 
her own duties. 

“ Well, what is the matter now, my child ? ” Clara 
had come so soon, she had no idea her work was 
finished. Her mother supposed she wanted to beg 
off from doing it, or to make some complaint. 

“Nothing is the matter, mamma,” said Clara, 
very pleasantly, “ except I have done all you told 
me to do.” 

“What, so soon ! ” said her mother, with surprise. 
“Then I am afraid you have slighted it, and you 
know I told you I wanted to have it done very 
nicely.” 

So saying, she took the work out of Clara’s hand 
and examined it. 

“ Why, no, you haven’t slighted it ; it is done very 
well indeed, better than I ever knew you to sew 


100 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


before. Yon must have bad some fairy to help 
you, I think.” 

“Yes, mamma, I did.” 

“ Two, perhaps,” said her mother, smiling. 
“Were not their names Patience and Diligence? 
You will find them very serviceable fairies, always.” 

Clara was on the point of telling her mother about 
the spectacles. But at that moment George came, 
rushing in with his face glowing with happiness. 

“Well, my boy,” said his mother, “how did 
you get along at school to-day ? ” 

“ Oh ! first-rate.” 

“ Did you get all those hard sums ? ” asked Clara. 

“ Yes, every one of them ; and I had a very 
pleasant visit with Africa, and brought a long mes- 
sage from her across the Atlantic Ocean to my 
teacher. But it is my turn to ask questions now. 
How is the sewing ? ” 

“Oh, first-rate,” said Clara, imitating George’s 
tone. “ It is all done.” 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


101 


“ Did you prick your fingers ? ” 

“ No.” 

“Did you get your thread all snarled up, and 
break it ? ” 

“ Only once.” 

“Did you get vexed fifty times, and declare 
you never could finish your task % ” 

“No, not fifty. And I did get through, and did 
my sewing very nicely. Didn’t I, mamma ? ” 

“ Yes, you have done very well ; I never knew you 
to sew so much and so well in the same time before.” 

“ Then, some fairy must have helped her,” 
said George, giving Clara a knowing look. 

“ So mamma just told me. 

“ I had two.” 

“ Two ? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ Well, you ought to have done your work in 
double quick time,” said George. “ Who were 
they ? ” 


7 


102 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ Oh, those old-fashioned fairies, called Patience 
and Diligence,” said Clara, laughing. 

“ I didn’t know but they might have given you 
some magic spectacles, or something of that kind, 
to help you see,” said George, with a quick 
glance at his mother and Clara. 

“ I have got a pair of magic spectacles — ” 

George was just raising his hand, and a “ Hush ” 
was on his lips, when Clara added : “ In my two 
eyes.” 

George and Clara both laughed at the double 
meaning, and looked wisely at each other. 

“ So have I,” said George, “ a pair of magic spec-, 
tacles in my two eyes.” 

“ Did they help you to do your sums ? ” his mother 
inquired, with a pleasant smile, “ or was it Tom 
Jones?” 

“ Oh, it was the spectacles, mother ; Tom did not 
help me with one of them.” 

As soon as George and Clara could get by them- 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


103 


selves, they talked over the history of the day, and 
both concluded that there could no longer be any 
doubt about the possession of the spectacles. 

“ I can do five times as much as I could before,” 
said George. 

“ So can I,” said Clara. “ And it is so much 
pleasanter. I was a little discouraged for a while 
about the sewing. But I began to think of the spec- 
tacles, and they seemed to talk to me, and tell me 
what to do, and then I got on nicely.” 

“ Didn’t it come in beautifully about the specta- 
cles being in your two eyes ? I was awful afraid you 
•were going to tell.” 

“ I am so glad,” said Clara. “ Because now we 
can talk as much as we please about our magical gift 
before father and mother, and they will think we 
mean our eyes. And it is true, you know, that they 
are in our eyes.” 

The tea-bell now rang, and they went in, with 
smiling faces and happy hearts. They were so sure 


104 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


of the spectacles that they began to think there 
was nothing in the world which they might not be 
able to do. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


105 



CHAPTER VI. 

WONDERFUL CHANGE. THE CAUSE. THE GIFT CERTAIN. 

By these various tests, George and Clara became 
so certain that they were in the possession of some 
magical power, by the aid of which they could do al- 
most anything they desired to do, that they were not 
afraid of any task their parents or teachers gave 
them. They even took delight in learning hard 
lessons, and in doing things which had always been 
unpleasant to them before. It is true they were 
sometimes discouraged, when they had a very diffi- 
cult and unpleasant duty to perform, and were fool- 
ish enough to wish that the fairy had given them 
the power of obtaining everything they desired by 
merely wishing for it. But their discouragements 


106 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


would soon pass away. They would recall to mind 
what he had told them. “ One thing at a time ” was 
almost as magical in its effects as the spectacles them- 
selves. “ Look sharp ” always helped them. "When 
they did not succeed the first time, and began to get 
excited, they thought of the consequences. They 
always found the spectacles growing dim, and this 
led them to make an effort to collect their thoughts 
and quiet their fears. The effect of this effort was 
always magical. The spectacles grew bright and 
everything appeared in clearer light. 

In this way the children went on for some months, 
rejoicing in the possession of a secret and magical 
power, which enabled them to do what had seemed 
impossible before. Mr. and Mrs. Field could not 
but notice the remarkable change which had taken 
place in George and Clara, and it gave them the 
greatest pleasure, though they were at a loss to 
account for it. George had been so easily discour- 
aged in his studies when he found any lesson that 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


107 


was in tlie least difficult, and Clara was so impatient 
and took such dislike to some things which her 
mother desired to have her learn, that they were 
afraid their children would never accomplish much 
in anything. 

George seemed like a different boy. He did not 
complain any more about his teachers, and hard 
lessons. They did not have to drive him to his 
books. On the contrary, he was always ready to 
talk about his school, and his studies. He was not 
afraid of long and difficult problems. The careless- 
ness, and indifference, for which he was noted, passed 
away, and he was awake and observant of every- 
thing around him. 

Quite as great a change had taken place in 
Clara. She was unusually attentive to her lessons. 
Sometimes her mother observed the old spirit of 
opposition to certain duties, rising in her mind from 
habit, but it pleased her to notice that her daughter 
always made an effort to put it down, and compel 


108 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


herself to do what was required of her. After school 
the children would slip away into some corner, and 
talk over the events of the day in a pleasant manner. 
They seemed to take a much greater interest than 
usual in each other’s studies, and in everything useful. 

One evening, many months after the gift of the 
wonderful spectacles, as they were chatting away in 
a corner of the parlor, describing to each other some 
new instances of their power, Mr. Field thought it 
would be a good time to see if he could not learn 
something about the cause of the great change 
which had taken place in the children ; so, turning 
to them, he said : “ What are you talking about so 

earnestly, George ? You and Clara must be forming 
some conspiracy, you have so many secrets to talk 
about.” 

“ We were only talking about our lessons.” 

“ Telling how you dislike them, I suppose,” said 
his father, “and wishing there were no geogra- 
phies, arithmetics, or schools.” 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


109 


“ Oh, no, sir, we were not. I was telling Clara 
what a hard lesson we had in arithmetic to-day, and 
how easily I performed it.” 

“That is very strange; I thought you hated 
arithmetic.” 

“ So I did once, but I like it now, very much ; and 
I like my school and all my studies. They don’t 
seem so hard as they did.” 

“ How is that ? ” asked his father, “ are they any 
easier than they were a year ago ? ” 

“Ho, sir. They are much harder, but they seem 
easier to me.” 

“ They are harder and yet they seem easier ! How 
can that be ? Tom Jones must help you, I think.” 

“ Ho, sir, I help him sometimes.” 

“ Y ou help him ! I thought he was the smartest 
boy in arithmetic in the class.” 

“ So he was. But there was one sum in the lesson 
to-day that he could not do, and I showed him how.” 

“ And did you not have any help ? ” 


110 


THE MAGIO SPECTACLES. 


This was a hard question for George to answer. 
He was too truthful a boy to tell a lie, but he did 
not want to tell his father about the spectacles, for 
fear he would disbelieve him, or laugh at him. 
Besides, it was pleasant to have such a grand secret, 
and he intended some time to astonish his father 
and mother with his wonderful power. He recollect- 
ed how happily the secret was concealed once before 
by really telling it, and he thought he would try it 
again. So he answered : 

“Yes, sir, I have some help, but not from the 
teacher nor from any of the boys.” 

“ Where, then, do you get it ? ” 

“ I have some magic spectacles, which help me 
to see how to do my sums, and get my lessons, and 
do many other things.” 

“ Magic spectacles ! ” said his father. “ What do 
you mean ? Where are they ? ” 

“ They are in my eyes,” George replied, with a smile, 
at the same time casting a knowing look at Clara. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


Ill 


“Oh, in your eyes, are they? Well, that is a 
very good place to have them,” said his father. 

“ I should think Clara had a pair, too,” said her 
mother, with a pleasant smile, “ for she can see a 
great many things which she could not a few months 
ago. She can even see some use in sewing, and she 
is learning to do it very nicely, too. I am sure it 
must have required some magical power to make 
her able to do that.” 

“ So I have, mamma,” said Clara. 

“ And are yours in your eyes, too ? ” asked her 
father, with a quizzical smile. 

“ Yes, sir.” 

“ And very bright and blue ones they are,” he 
replied. “ I hope you will never lose them.” 

“ I hope not, too, I am sure.” 

“ Your spectacles or your eyes?” asked George. 

“ Both,” said Clara. 

“ Well, they must be very good spectacles indeed, if 
they help you to learn your lessons and do your duty.” 


112 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


A gentleman and lady now called, and tlie conver- 
sation was interrupted, much to the delight of the 
children, who were afraid that some question would 
be put to them which would compel them to tell 
the whole truth. 

It all passed off very happily, as a good joke, 
which they all understood. The subject itself, how- 
ever, was not forgotten, and the “ magic spectacles ” 
became quite a by-word in the family. When Mr. 
Field wanted anything done quickly, he would say : 
“ Come, children, put on your spectacles and look 
sharp.” 

One day George made a great blunder in doing an 
errand for his father, and when the mistake was 
known, his father said, jocosely: “ You must have 
lost your spectacles, George ! ” 

So the time passed on, and the children continued 
to improve in their studies. George soon gained 
the reputation of being the best scholar in the 
school, and he deserved the name. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


113 


But there were many tilings which neither he nor 
Clara could see, even with the aid of their magic 
spectacles — things which put the power of their 
wonderful gift to a much severer test than their 
hardest lessons. This, however, is a matter of suffi- 
cient importance to put into another chapter. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


114 


CHAPTER VII. 

THE LOST CAP, AND THE LOST TEMPER. A NEW TEST 

AND A NEW TRIUMPH OF THE SPECTACLES. 

“ Where’s ray cap ? ” cried George one morning, 
as he stood in the hall, and was about to set out for 
school. “ Has any one seen ray cap ? ” 

“ I have not,” said Clara, who was just coming out 
of the dining-room. “ Perhaps you left it at school 
yesterday ; perhaps it is in your bed.” 

“ You know better than that,” he replied, in an 
impatient tone. “ You must have left your wits 
in bed or somewhere else.” 

“Along with my brother’s good temper,” she 
replied. “ But I can tell you where your cap is.” 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


115 


“ Where ? ” 

“Where yon left it.” With this provoking 
remark she ran up stairs, and looked over the 
banisters to see its effect upon her brother. 

“ You provoking thing,” he cried. “I’ll pay you 
for that.” Then he called, in a loud and still more 
impatient tone : 

“ Mother, have you seen my cap % ” 

“ No, 1 have not, but I can tell you where it ought 
to be.” 

“ It ought to be on my head, I suppose.” 

“ No, it ought to be on the hat-rack, where it be- 
longs.” 

“Well, it isn’t there now,” said George, in a 
somewhat subdued tone, for he knew his mother had 
often told him to hang up his cap in its proper place, 
when he came into the house. 

“ Why don’t you look around and see if you can’t 
find it ? ” asked his mother. 

“I have looked everywhere. Somebody must 


116 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


have hid it ; I shouldn’t wonder if it was some of 
Clara’s mischief.” 

“ Ho, it isn’t,” said Clara, who was still standing at 
the top of the stairs, and, I am sorry to say, ra- 
ther enjoying his perplexity : “ it is just where I told 
you it was. It is where you left it.” 

“ It is no such thing. I left it upon the hat-rack, 
I am sure I did.” 

“ That can hardly be,” said his mother ; “ or you 
would find it there now. Have you asked Jane? 
Perhaps she can tell you.” 

“ Where is she ? I shall have to find her before I 
can ask her ; and she is almost as hard to find as my 
cap.” 

Jane, fortunately, came along about this time, and 
declared that she knew nothing about it. u Perhaps 
it was on the back porch, where he was reading last 
night after he came home from school.” 

George remembered the reading, and he rushed 
out upon the porch, for it was getting late and he 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


117 


liad no time to spare. Sure enough, there was 
his cap on the floor, in the corner where he had 
thrown it the night before. He recollected now, 
that, instead of putting his cap in its place when he 
came in, he had thrown it down and forgotten all 
about it. 

His mother was standing in the hall when he 
j came back, and said to him, pleasantly: “ I should 
t think a boy who had magic spectacles could find 
his cap without making such an ado about it ; I am 
j afraid you have lost them.” 

“Oh, I hope not,” said George, with so much 
: earnestness as to surprise his mother. 

“Well, if you will put your things where they 
belong, when you have done using them, you will 
not need any spectacles to find them ; and it will 
have a magical effect upon the comfort of the whole 
family. But you must hurry off to school now, or 
you will be late. I wish, however, you would try 

to discover some of your faults with your wonder- 
8 


118 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


ful spectacles, and correct them. It would save 
yourself and all the rest of us much trouble.” 

George had no time to make any excuse or reply. 
He hastened to school as fast as he could. His 
mother’s words, however, had their effect. Her 
playful allusion to the spectacles set him to thinking, 
and, as we shall see in the end, to some purpose. 

George was very careless about some things. 
He hardly ever put anything in its place when he 
had done using it. He dropped his slate and books, 
and cap, or anything else, wherever he might 
happen to be ; consequently he never knew where to 
find anything. His father and mother had often 
tried to correct the fault, but with very little success. 
He was so impulsive in his nature, that he went 
from one thing to another as the spirit moved him, 
and he was, generally, so absorbed in the present, 
that he forgot all about the past. This is a very 
common and serious fault in many children, and it 
needs some magical power to correct it. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


119 


George had never thonght of using his spectacles 
for any other purpose than to see how to do his sums 
and get his other lessons. Here was a new way of 
testing their power. His mother’s words kept ring- 
ing in his ears : “ See my faults ! I expect I have 
a plenty of them. But I have never thought much 
about them. I wonder if the spectacles would help 
me. It would be worth trying, and I will try it. 
Let me see. One fault is, I don’t put up my 
things when I have done using them. I have been 
told that, I think, more than once. I don’t 
need any spectacles to see that, but I am afraid I 
shall need more than one pair to make me see it at 
the right time. Well, 6 One thing at a time,’ that is 
the rule, and I will begin with ‘ Put up your things.’ ” 

His mind kept running upon this subject until he 
reached the school-house. He was just in time, 
without a minute to spare ; the duties of the school 
commenced, and he became absorbed in them. 

Many times during the day, however, the thought 


120 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


would come into his mind : “ Faults ! see my faults ! 
they are not very pleasant things to see; will the 
spectacles help me to do that? Why not? I had 
plenty of faults about studying; I am sure they 
have helped me to correct some of them. Why not 
others? ‘Look sharp,’ ‘One thing at a time.’ 
Well, I’ll try it, even if it will be rather unplea- 
sant business.” 

The day passed pleasantly away as usual. George 
had learned the secret of being happy at school. 
The spectacles had worked a truly magical change 
in him in this respect. While he devoted himself 
entirely to his studies, and became absorbed in them, 
the time passed away without notice; his lessons 
were well learned; and success is always pleasant, 
and makes us happy. 

The boys were going to have a game of ball after 
school, and he hurried home to leave his books, and 
get his bat. Wholly absorbed in thinking about 
the game, he threw his books and slate into a chair 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


121 


that was standing in the hall, and was hurrying to a 
closet to get his bat, when something said to him : 
“ Stop ! ” almost as plainly as if the words had been 
spoken with a human voice — “ Stop, and put your 
books on the shelf where they belong ! 5 5 

“ I can’t now, I am in a hurry. I’ll put them up 
when I come back,” he answered to himself. 

“ Stop,” said the voice again. “ Do it now.” 

“ Is that you, my fairy, who says ‘ Stop ’ so plainly ? 
I do believe it is. You can talk as well as see, can 
you ? ‘ Put everything in its place.’ I think I 

have heard that before, and I’ll put one thing in its 
place now.” 

These thoughts flashed through his mind in a 
moment, while he was going back to the chair on 
which he had thrown his books. He took them up 
and placed them upon the shelf where they belonged. 
“ There you are. All right this time. Thank you, 
my fairy. You have shown me one fault and I have 
corrected it once. ‘ One thing at a time.’ ” 


122 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


He then hurried to the closet for his bat, but it 
was not to be found. His first impulse was to call 
Jane or his mother, for the bat. But he checked 
himself. He could not see the bat, but he saw his fault. 

“ There it is again,” he thought. “ Isn’t it too 
bad ? ” 

“ Yes, it is too bad, and it is time to do better.” 

“ Talking again, are you, Spectacles ? Please to 
tell me where my bat is ! ” 

“ Can’t see the bat. Can only see where it would 
be if—” 

“ Oh, yes, I can see that I didn’t put it up. But I 
will next time.” 

“ Jane, have you seen my bat ? ” Jane had heard 
him fumbling around, and she opened the door to 
see who it was. 

“ Yes. It is behind the door. You left it in the 
hall and I put it there. If you would put up your 
things you would know where to find ’em.” 

“ Yes. I think I have heard that remark before,” 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


123 


lie said, as he seized the bat and rushed out of the 
door. 

He was a little late in getting on the grounds, 
hut he soon became interested in the play, and 
thought of nothing hut how to win the game. 
Wheii that was over it was time for supper, and 
he went home with his mind full of “ grand hits,” 
and u splendid catches,” and “ big runs.” The 
moment he closed the liall-door, his cap went into 
the corner, and he was just on the point of drop- 
ping his club — when “ Stop ” rang through his 
ears. 

“ Oh, yes, I will stop. There’s the fault again. 
You belong up there, I believe, Mr. Cap. ‘Every- 
thing in its place.’ And you, my faithful bat, are 
not to be trusted, honest as you are, with the free- 
dom of the hall ; I must put you into the closet and 
shut the door to prevent you from running away. 
There you are. Books on the shelf, bat in the 
closet, and cap on the rack. How I trust I shall 


124 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


not be on the rack to-morrow morning, when I 
want to find yon.” 

“ George, why don’t yon come to supper ? ” 
asked his mother. 

“ I am coming. I was putting up my things.” 

“Putting up your things! Well, if you have 
done that, you shall be excused for being a little 
late, and have an extra piece of cake in the bargain. 
What made you think of putting up your 
things % ” 

“ The magic spectacles, mother.” 

“Well, they are magical indeed, if they can make 
you think to put your cap and books in their places. 
Some fairy must have given them t,o you.” 

“So he did,” said George, with a knowing 
glance at Clara. 

“ He did ! ” said his father ; “ I thought fairies were 
always of the feminine gender.” 

“ Mine are not,” said George. 

“Well, I don’t care whether they are he or she, 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


125 


if they can make yon see your faults, and mend 
them.” 

“ Did your fairy tell you where to find your cap 
this morning?” said Clara, with a quizzing tone 
and look. 

a Yes,” George replied, “she did, but I couldn’t 
find it, even then. The fairy that told me where to 
find my cap is a very mischievous and provoking 
one, and she will get her pay for her help this 
morning. 

Every one seemed to understand who George 
meant now, and- there was a little sharpness in his 
tone, which showed that he did not feel very thankful 
for her services in the morning. 

The supper ended, and they withdrew from the 
table. It had been an important day for George. 
For the first time he had seen the necessity of look- 
ing at his own faults in conduct as faults, and of 
making a voluntary effort to correct them. The 
idea was thoroughly lodged in his mind, and it was 


126 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


the beginning of a most important change in his 
character. It was one step in advance towards 
becoming a wise and useful man. We cannot 
correct our faults until we see them as faults, and 
see them in ourselves as injurious and hateful ; as 
something that requires effort and perseverance to 
remove. Children as well as grown people are 
generally sharp-sighted enough to see faults in 
others, but it requires a very different power to see 
them in themselves, and at the same time to go 
bravely to work to remove them. George never 
would have done it if it had not been for the magical 
spectacles. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


127 


CHAPTER. VIII. 

A SHARP CONFLICT. WHAT CAME OF IT. 

George and Clara were much alike in many re- 
spects, as brothers and sisters generally are. Both 
had many faults, but their faults were not the same. 
Clara was not so careless about throwing down her 
things wherever she might happen to use them last. 
Indeed she rather prided herself upon her orderly 
habits. But she had other defects which were much 
worse than carelessness, and she needed the aid of 
her spectacles to see them quite as much as her. 
brother did. She was very fond of teasing George 
and her companions, and making fun of them ; and 
she would sometimes let a sharp word fly that would 
wound and sting like a poisoned arrow. 


128 THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 

She delighted also in playing practical jokes, and 
always thought it a sufficient excuse for any pain 
she might inflict upon others in doing it, that she 
was only in fun. This was a very great fault, and 
she was soon to be made to see it. 

After tea Clara and George went into the garden. 
They both felt a little irritated at each other : George 
was vexed with Clara for laughing at him in the 
morning, because he could not find his cap ; and 
Clara felt annoyed that he should threaten to punish 
her for it. They did not talk with each other in 
their usual friendly way, but each one wandered 
around looking at the flowers. Clara was intent upon 
examining a rose-bush which was just coming into 
blossom. The sight of the sharp thorns suggested 
the idea of a practical joke, which she immediately 
proceeded to execute. 

She picked a rose which had several very sharp 
thorns, somewhat concealed by the leaves, and run- 
ning up to George, she held it out in such a manner 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


129 


that he could not take it without sticking them into 
his fingers, and cried out : “ Here, George ; take 

this rose, ^quick.” 

She spoke in such an excited and earnest w T ay, 
that George was taken by surprise. He did not 
know but she had hurt herself. He reached out his 
hand and caught the rose so firmly, that the thorns 
went almost their whole length into his fingers, and 
broke off. He threw it down with a cry of pain, 
and began to examine his hand. 

“ What’s the matter \ ” said Clar-a. “ Don’t you 
like the rose ? I thought you were fond of flowers.” 

George made no reply. But she could see by his 
looks that he was very angry. 

“ What is the matter ? ” she said again ; “ you 
don’t seem to think much of my present.” 

“ I will show you what is the matter,” said George, 
taking his knife from his pocket and cutting from 
the same bush a long branch that was covered with 
the sharpest thorns. 


130 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ What are you going to do with that ? ” she asked, 
as he came towards her. 

<C I am going to make you a present of it. Here, 
take it quick,” and he reached it towards her, as she 
had done to him. 

“ I shan’t do any such thing,” she replied. “ Do 
you suppose I am a fool ? ” 

“ You shall take it. If you don’t I will make you.” 

“I would like to see you do it,” she replied in an 
angry tone. George’s anger had excited her temper, 
and she stood facing him with a most determined 
and indignant look. 

u You would like to see me do it, would you ? 
W ell, you shall have a chance.” With these words he 
threw the branch with a quick and adroit motion, 
so that it would fall upon his sister’s hare neck, un- 
less she caught it with her hand. It was done so 
quickly that she had no time to catch it, and it 
fell upon her neck, became entangled in her hair, 
and hurt her cruelly. Without thinking, she grasp- 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


131 


ed it firmly, and in attempting to remove it she 
filled her hands, as well as her neck, with the thorns. 
As soon as she was released from it she began to run 
for the house, crying with the pain. 

George repented the moment he saw what he 
had done. Though he was very angry, he had no 
intention of hurting her so much. He thought she 
would try to catch the bush when she saw it coming, 
and she would only get pricked a little worse than 
he had been. 

“ Stop, Clara ! stop ! ” he cried, running after 
her. “ Don’t tell mother ; I am very sorry, I did 
not mean to hurt you so.” 

“ Yes, you did ; you know you did ; you threw it 
on purpose,” said Clara, sobbing and looking very 
angry. 

“ I know I threw it at you on purpose,” he replied, 
“ but I had no idea it would hurt you so badly.” 

“ It was real mean and cruel in you to do it. See 
how my hands bleed.” 


132 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“But you did it first. Wasn’t it just as mean 
and cruel in you ? ” 

“No, it wasn’t ; I was only in fun.” 

“ But tlie 'thorns hurt just as much as though you 
did it in earnest, and meant to hurt me all you could.” 

“ It may hurt as much ; hut it isn’t so had.” 

“ It may not he as bad for you, hut it is just as 
had for me. They went into my hands just as far. 
See, it made the blood come too. What a funny 
sight ! ” And he made such a comical face that 
Clara smiled through her tears, and they both be- 
came good-natured. 

“Let me see,” said George, “how many funs I 
have in my hand. One, two, three, four,” and he 
began to count them. “Four funny thorns, mak- 
ing holes in my hand that are not so funny.” 

“ Let me see how many mads I have,” said Clara. 
“ Oh, dear, there are so many that I cannot count 
them ; and they do smart so ! ” And she began to 
cry again. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


133 


“ Oh, don’t cry,” said George, “ I will put on my 
magic spectacles and pick them all out.” 

He took his knife and picked out all the thorns, 
very gently, making comments as he went on in 
the work, that kept her attention as much as pos- 
sible from the pain. 

“ There ! ” he exclaimed, as he took out the last 
one. “ The mads are all out of your hand and of 
my heart. ISTow I will attend to the funny part. 
There is a big one ! Good-bye. “Here is his little 
sister, Clara ! What- a funny little fun it is ! ” There, 
they are all gone! The fun is gone and the mad 
is gone. But I am sure I can see something else.” 

“ What is it ? ” 

“ Let me look in your hand, and I will tell you.” 

Clara held out her hand, which he examined with 
much gravity comparing it with his own. “ I can’t see 
any difference between the bloody wounds made in 
fun, and in anger. Both sting and bleed,” he said,“ and 

I think I can see something black around them both.” 

9 


134 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ Something black ! ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ What can it be ! ” 

“ The spectacles must answer that ! Oh ! I see 
now. It is a fault. I think mine is the largest. 
But yours is black, too.” 

“ A fault ! Do you think the spectacles will show 
us our faults ? ” 

“Yes, I am sure they will. They show me my 
faults about putting up my clothes ; I can’t leave 
anything in the wrong place now, but they cry out, 
‘ Stop ! put everything where it ought to be.’ ” 

“I don’t see why they shouldn’t help us to see 
our mistakes in conduct as well as in our lessons. 
But I don’t want to see my faults. They are not 
beautiful or pleasant in the least,” said Clara. 

“They’re ugly enough, it is true,” said George, 
“ but if we have them, I suppose it is best to see 
them.” 

“ I don’t know why. What is the use in seeing 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


135 


them? For my part I would be glad if they were 
invisible, and no one could ever discover them.’’ 

“ But others will find them out in spite of us. They 
are always sticking out their heads and showing 
their ugly faces.” 

“Well, it is bad enough for others to see them, 
without looking at them ourselves.” 

“ That is so, certainly. But when we see them 
we can mend them, and then they will become 
invisible.” 

“ But how can we see them ? ” 

“ There are always persons enough who are ready 
to point them out to us.” 

“ Yes, I know that, and so I don’t think I shall 
look for them myself. But it always vexes me 
when any one points out my faults, and I begin to 
defend myself. So I don’t think I shall trouble my- 
self much about it.” 

“ The faults will trouble us, whether we trouble 
ourselves or not. I was thinking yesterday, how 


136 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


unhappy I used to be in school, and how I hated it. 
I could see that it was my own fault, though I 
thought then, that it was all owing to the school and 
the teachers. But I am happy enough now, though 
the school and the teachers are the same. So I was 
always getting vexed because I could not find my 
cap, or books, or something else when I wanted it ; 
but I can see now that it was owing to my own care- 
lessness. Indeed, I believe nearly all our trouble 
comes from our own mistakes and faults.” 

“ That is a new idea ; I thought all our troubles 
came from other people. I never dreamed of blam- 
ing myself ; and I don’t believe we are so much to 
blame, after all. Did these come from myself ? ” 
and she held out her hands and showed the marks 
of the thorns. 

“ Well, perhaps so, though they came from me too. 
If you had not pricked me, I should not have thrown 
the rose-bush at you.” 

“ And if you had not been vexed and threatened 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


137 


to pay me back for laughing at you this morning, I 
should not have pricked you. If you had put up 
your things, I should not have laughed at you, so it 
is all your fault after all.” 

“Yes, it is mine, and yours too; we shall have to 
share the blame together. But suppose you had 
not laughed at me ? ” 

“ Then you could not have been vexed at me for 
doing it. Suppose you had not threatened to take 
revenge upon me ? ” 

“ Then you would not have hurt me, and I should 
not have hurt you.” 

“ That is so, and if neither of us had been in 
fault, neither of us would have been hurt. So, it 
seems, our faults not only injure ourselves but 
others.” 

“ That is it. All our troubles and pains do come 
from our faults, I am sure ; we can see it in this very 
thing we have been doing to each other, and it must 
be a great deal better to see and correct them than 


138 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


to conceal tliem. They are like the thorns we had 
in our hands. It is better to find them and pick 
them out, though it does hurt some. They would 
hurt much more if we should let them remain.” 

“ But what must we do ? Must we get vexed and 
scratch each other every day to discover our 
faults ? ” 

“We shall discover them fast enough if we look 
for them, without going to that trouble.” 

“If we only had a magic mirror to see them in, 
it would help us. But I should be afraid to look 
into it.” 

“ The spectacles will give us all the help we need. 
But we must go into the house now, or we shall get 
into more trouble.” 

They went immediately to their rooms, and, as far 
as possible, removed all traces of their conflict. 
They had both learned an important lesson. Clara, 
especially, began to think of herself in a new light. 
The idea of examining herself for the purpose of dis- 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


139 


covering her faults, had never occurred to her before. 
It was not a pleasant one. But she began to dis- 
cover its necessity, though she could not yet see how 
the painful duty was to be done. We shall find in 
the next chapter, however, that the spectacles helped 
her out of this difficulty, by providing her with just 
such a mirror as she thought would be useful for 
this purpose. 


140 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


CHAPTEE IX. 

HOW TO FIND FAULTS. A NEW KIND OF MIRROR. 

WHAT CLARA SAW IN IT. 

The next morning, as Clara was going to school, 
she began to think over the events of the day before. 
A new light seemed to dawn upon her. “ Find fault 
with myself ! That is a new idea ! It is bad 
enough to have other people find fault with me ; I 
can hardly bear it from mother, and it vexes me be- 
yond measure to have my teachers and companions 
censure me. Find fault with myself ! That would 
be turning against myself, and I am sure I never 
could do that.” 

“Perhaps other people would not find so much 
fault with you, if you should look for your bad 
habits yourself and remove them.” 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


141 


“ Did you say that, my fairy ? ” 

“ Yes, I did.” 

This answer came into her mind so quick and 
clear, that she turned round as if expecting to see 
the old man who gave her the spectacles, at her side. 
But he was not there. At least she could not see him. 

u The answer must come from the spectacles,” she 
thought. “ But it is all the same, for it does seem 
as though they could speak right out sometimes.” 

“ It is much better to find fault with yourself, than 
to have others find fault with you.” 

“ There you are again, my fairy ; are you quite 
sure of that ? ” 

“ Yes, I am.” 

u If I removed them myself, other people could 
not see them ? ” 

“ Of course they couldn’t.” 

“ But how can I see them ? ” 

“ Look in the mirror ! ” 

Again Clara turned her head. She was sure some 

O 


142 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


one must be near lier. Tlie ideas came into her 
mind so distinctly. But, if any one did speak the 
words, he was invisible. 

44 4 Look in the mirror ! ’ How absurd ! How can 
any one see their faults by looking in a mirror ? It 
must require a magic mirror, as well as magic 
glasses, to see faults, and evil dispositions.” 

44 Look in the mirror ! ” The thought kept pass- 
ing through her mind, 44 I wish I had such a mirror. 
But I should be afraid to look into it, I might see 
something so frightful.” 

44 There are a plenty of them,” was whispered in 
her ear. 

44 Where ? Oh ! spectacles, fairy, whoever or what- 
ever you are, tell me where ! ” 

44 You’ll find one before you get to school.” 

44 Shall I ? ” This thought roused her somewhat 
from her reverie, and she quickened her walk, look- 
ing around at the same time, in the expectation of 
seeing a big looking-glass, or something of the kind. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


143 


She had not gone far before Fannie Sharp, one of 
the school girls, came running up to her, clapping 
her hands and laughing in a most excited manner. 

“ Oh Clara! ” she cried. “ We’ve had such fun. 
You ought to have been here to enjoy it.” 

“ What is it ? ” Clara inquired with an eager look. 
Clara was fond of fun, and was always ready to have 
her share in it. 

“ You know Mary Smith, and what a timid thing 
she is ? ” 

“ Yes, she is afraid of her own shadow.” 

“ When she sees a snake or a worm, she screams 
as if she was frightened to death. I believe she 
would tremble at a grasshopper.” 

“ Yes,” said Clara, “ and get down upon her knees, 
if she had sense enough left, and beg him not to 
eat her up at one mouthful. But what was the 
fun?” 

“ Yesterday, some of the boys killed a little striped 
snake, and tied a string to it, and dragged it along 


144 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


in the road, pretending it was alive, and running 
after them. I thought it would he a good joke to 
frighten Mary in the same way. So I tied some 
worsted threads to the string, and asked Mary to 
look at them. I told her I was going to work a 
cushion cover, and I asked her if she did not think 
the colors' were pretty. I put my arm around her, 
while I was talking with her, and tied another part 
of the string to the belt of her dress behind her. 
When I had made it fast, I looked round and cried, 
4 Oh mercy ! Mary, there’s a snake.’ 

44 4 Where, where ? ’ she asked, with a wild and 
frightened look. 

44 4 Eight behind you. Don’t you see it?’ I 




said. 

44 She caught a glimpse of it, and began to run as 
hard as she could. 

44 4 It’s after you, it’s after you,’ I shouted. 

44 She cast one glance over her shoulder, and seeing 
the snake squirming along in the path after her, she 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


145 


gave a most terrible scream and ran towards the 
school-liouse as if for her life. A great many of the 
girls saw her. Some laughed, and others tried to 
stop her. She did not mind anything about them, 
but kept on towards the school-house, as fast as she 
could go. She was running so fast and thinking 
only of the snake, I suppose, that she did not mind 
where she stepped, and struck her foot against a 
stone and fell. We thought she would jump up 
and scream again and run still faster, if possible. 
But when the girls found that she made no attempt 
to get up, they ran to help. Her face was as white 
as a sheet. She had almost fainted, and she was 
trembling all over, and moaning, 1 Don’t let it 
bite me ! don’t let it bite me ! ’ The girls took 
hold of her and lifted her up, when she looked 
wildly round, and cried : 

“ ‘ Where is it ? Where is it ? ’ 

“ ‘ It is dead,’ said the girls. ‘ It won’t hurt 
you.’ 


146 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ ‘ Is it really dead ? Who killed it ? ’ 

“ ‘ The hoys killed it yesterday,’ I said. ‘ Don’t 
be so silly as to be afraid of a dead snake.’ 

“ ‘ Oh ! I thought it was alive ; I am sure I saw it ] 
running after me.’ 

“ 4 How could a dead snake run ? ’ said I. 

“Just before she fell the string broke, and she 
didn’t know it was tied to her. 

“ 6 It will teach you a good lesson,’ I said, 6 not to 
be afraid of everything.’ 

“ She was so faint she could hardly walk. One of 
the girls got her some water, and she went into the 
schoolhouse. 

“ But you ought to have seen her when she was 
running ! Her bonnet fell off, her hair was stream- ; 
ing behind her, her eyes stuck out of her head, and 
she ran so fast she would have beaten a racer,” and 
Fannie laughed as if the sight was one of the most 
comical ones in the world. 

“ Wasn’t it splendid fun ? ” she said. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 147 

“ I suppose it was fun for you, but it must have 
been awful for Mary.” 

“ It served her right, she ought not to be afraid of 
everything,” said Fannie. “ Besides, it will teach 
her a good lesson.” 

“ I don’t know about that,” said Clara. 

Fannie knew that Clara was fond of a good joke, 
and she thought she would enter into this with as 
much interest as she herself did, and that they would 
have a hearty laugh together over it. She was 
somewhat disappointed, therefore, when she found 
Clara was rather inclined to side with Mary than 
with her. 

“ c Yon don’t know about it ! ’ Don’t you like to 
have some fun as well as the rest of us ? ” 

“Yes, I like fun, too well, perhaps. But it must 
have been terribly cruel for poor Mary, and it may 
injure her for life.” 

“ But I was only in fun, you know ; and as to injur- 
ing her, I don’t believe a word of it. It will do her 


148 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


good. The next time she will not be frightened at 
a dead snake.” 

Clara could not say much, because she had been 
guilty of the same thing in principle, the day before, 
in getting George to take the rose, and that was not 
the first instance of the kind either. Indeed Fannie 
would not have come to tell her about it, if she had 
not known that she was fond of playing the same 
kind of tricks. 

“ It must be a great trial to be so timid,” said 
Clara, “ and she must have suffered cruelly from 
her fright.” 

“ Yes, but it was only in fan, you know. If I 
had supposed she was going to be so terribly fright- 
ened I would not have done it.” 

Some other girls called to Fannie and she was 
glad of an excuse to leave Clara, for, much to her 
surprise, she found she did not enter into the joke 
at all. 

But Clara’s eyes were opened. If the circumstance 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


149 


had occurred two days before, Clara would have 
regarded it with different feelings. But the trick 
with the rose-bush, her conversation with George, 
and her own reflections just before Fannie came up, 
prepared her to see the matter in a very different 
light. 

“ I have found the mirror,” she said to herself. 
“ Fannie Sharp is the mirror, and I can see one of 
my faults in her, and a very had one it is too. How 
ugly it looks ! ” 

“ Yes, there I am, as large as life, and just as 
ugly.” And her mind ran rapidly over the whole 
scene. She forgot all about Fannie. It seemed as 
though she had done it herself. She had found the 
mirror. The spectacles had the wmnderful power of 
enabling her to see herself in others. She could see 
her own faults, and her own virtues. She had gain- 
ed a power that was to work a most wonderful and 
beautiful change in her own character. 

“ Mirrors ! ” she thought. “ Yes, there are a plenty 
10 


150 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


of them. I am afraid I shall not see anything but 
my own faults, and I shall be tired to death of 
them.” 

“ Well, then put them away,” said the specta- 
cles. 

“ Oh, yes, it is easy enough to say it, but not quite 
so easy to do it.” 

“ You have taken one step, you know how to find 
them, and you cannot correct an evil until you see it.” 

“ That is true, certainly.” 

. “It is much better to see your own faults in 
others, than to see nothing in them but their faults.” 

Clara had learned one of the most important les- 
sons of life. She had learned to think of the defects 
in her own character, and she had discovered how to 
find them. She could see just how hateful they 
looked in others, and then she could know how hate- 
ful they were in herself. This led her to think more 
kindly of others. “ That is I instead of you,” she 
would think, when she saw anything that was evil 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


151 


or false in others which she knew was a part of her 
own character. When she saw an unselfish action, or 
an innocent and beautiful affection, or any accom 
plishment of mind or body, instead of being envious 
and jealous, she regarded it as an excellent example 
for herself. She saw what an ornament it would be 
to her character, and it stimulated her to do all in 
her power to attain it. 

This attainment was not reached at once. Indeed, 
it was the work of many years, but she began to 
watch herself and found her reward in it every day. 

We can assure our readers, young and old, that 
this gift of seeing our own defects in others, and try- 
ing to shun them ; of perceiving the beauty and bles- 
sedness of what is good and true, and trying to imi- 
tate it, is far more precious than all the magical 
powers attributed to the whole race of ancient fairies. 
It is a fairy of modern times, and of a new age. It 
has the friendly aid of science and art, and of all 
that is good and true. 


152 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


Clara went into the scliool-room and took her seat. 
But she conld not get the idea out of her mind, 
“Every one of these girls is a mirror in which I can 
see my own faults ; ” and she looked round the room, 
expecting to see some frightful image in each one of 
them. But instead of that, she found that most of 
them had taken their hooks and were quietly study- 
ing their lessons. This certainly was a good exam- 
ple for her, and she followed it. 

Nothing more of special importance occurred 
during the day. Clara would occasionally cast a fur- 
tive glance at one of the girls, half expecting to see 
herself reflected back, but as she found nothing to 
startle her, she went on with her studies as usual. 

After school she hastened home, for she wanted to 
have a talk with George. As soon as she saw him 
she ran up to him, saying with great eagerness, “ Oh, 
George ! I’ve learned something new to-day ; some- 
thing wonderful ! ” 

“You have ! How strange ! Something won- 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


153 


derful ! What is it ? That two and two make 
^four ? That the world is flat as a pancake ? ” 
George was in excellent spirits and he felt like 
having a banter w r ith every one. 

“ That may be new to yon,” said Clara, with some 
sharpness in her tone, “ but it isn’t new to me, that 
you are a real vexation.” 

“ Oh, then you didn’t learn that ; I know what 
you did learn, though ; you learned that sister Clara 
is a sweet-tempered little angel ; never jokes, never 
says a sharp word, never laughs at her brother, 
and always sticks the thorns into her^own fingers, 
and gives the flowers to him.” 

“That would be new, but it wouldn’t be true,” 
Clara replied, still a little irritated, “ but I have 
learned something that is new to me, and I am 
sure the spectacles showed it to me.” 

“The spectacles! Then it must be something 
good, for the spectacles tell the truth. They have 
told me something to-day. W e had the hardest sum in 


154 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


arithmetic we have ever liad, and there was not a boy 
in the class, except me, who could do it. The spec- 
tacles are truly magical. They have never failed yet 
when I have used them as the old beauty directed me.” ■ 

44 Old beauty ! ” exclaimed Clara, 44 I think he was 
a beauty ! ” 

44 Yes he was, I wish I could see him again. Per- 
haps the next time he will appear as a beautiful 
young woman, and then 4 he ’ will be 4 she.’ I sup- 
pose the fairies can change into any form they please.” 

44 Oh, yes, I have no doubt he will appear to you 
as a beautiful girl, rather than an old man ; some • 
thing like Sa — ” 

44 There, you may stop, or I’ll — ” 

44 You will blush. I know what you will do; 
and as blushing don’t become boys, I will stop.” 

Clara had touched a tender spot, and, even in the 
way of bantering, had come otf victorious. George 
was quite willing to listen to her new discovery. 

44 1 shall blush for you, if you don’t behave better,” 




THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


155 


said George. “ But wliat is the great discovery ? 
Let us hear it.” 

“ I have learned that you are a mirror.” Clara 
said this in a grave and earnest tone, as though she 
meant it. 

George looked into her face, to see if her looks did 
not contradict her words. But they did not, and he 
did not know what to make of it. He thought, 
however, it would be best to regard it as a joke. 

“ A mirror ! ” he exclaimed. “ Then I suppose 
my sister can see her own beautiful face and lovely 
nature in me ! ” 

“ Ho, I can’t ; I wish I could ; I can see how bad 
I am sometimes, though.” 

“ How bad you are ? ” said George, somewhat 
nettled. “ What do you mean ? ” 

“ There it is again, or there I am again,” said 
Clara, in a sad tone, as though she did not hear 
George’s question, while she kept looking him ear- 
nestly in the face. 


156 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ There it is again ! What do you mean ? What 
do yon see again ? ” 

44 I see myself,” said Clara. 44 It is hard to find 
fault with one’s self, isn’t it ? ” 

George now became serious and was disposed to 
listen for an explanation. 

“You know,” said Clara, “what we were talking 
about last night. It was really something new to 
me, and I could not keep from thinking about it. 
When I was going to school this morning,' I began 
to see something in it, and when I was wishing I 
knew how to discover my own faults, it came 
into my mind as quick as a flash : 4 Look in a 

mirror ! ’ 

“ Then I was just as much puzzled as before. It 
seemed very queer to look into a mirror to discover 
one’s faults, and I was w T ondering what kind of a 
mirror it could be, and where I could find it, when — ” 

44 When your spectacles told you I was the 
mirror,” interrupted George. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


157 


“Don’t bother me,” said Clara, “or I shall see 
something more in you. No, they didn’t tell me 
any such thing. They told me I should find it 
before I got to school ; and I did.” 

“ Then it wasn’t me, I am sure, for you didn’t 
find me.” 

“ No. It was Fannie Sharp.” 

“ Fannie Sharp ! She’s a bright one, any way ! ” 

Clara now commenced and told George the whole 
story about the snake and Mary Smith’s cruel fright. 
She explained what she meant by the mirror ; and con- 
fessed that she had seen, in Fannie’s cruel trick, her 
own disposition to play practical jokes, and the great 
evil of doing it. “ I don’t think I would have played 
such a trick as Fannie did uptfn a little timid thing 
like Mary Smith,” she said ; “ but I did almost as 
bad the day before to my own brother. The evil is 
the same, if it is not quite so great. It is in me, too. 
I saw how hateful it is in her, and I know it must 
be just as bad in me, and I am determined to get rid 


158 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


of it if I can. I can’t tell you how mean it makes me 

feel every time I think of it. I wanted to tell you 

* 

all about it, because I knew you would help me, and 
I hurried home from school to do it. Then, when 
you began to banter me so, I did see myself in you, 
for I thought it was nearly the same thing as playing 
tricks. It was playing them with words, and that 
was what made me say that you were the mirror.”. 

This was something new even to George, and now 
they had a long and earnest talk upon the subject, 
that did them both much good. When brothers and 
sisters really begin to see their own evils, and to 
desire to remove them, they can be of the greatest 
assistance to each other in doing such an unpleasant 
and difficult work. 


» 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


159 


CHAPTEK X. 

LET WHICH THE SPECTACLES GIVE A NEW PROOF 
OF THEIR WONDERFUL POWER. 

From this time a great change began to take 
place in the character and conduct of George and 
Clara. Indeed, the change was as great as had be- 
fore been made in their habits of study. They 
were more gentle in their manners, and kinder "to 
each other. They manifested greater respect for 
their parents, and a more earnest desire to do all in 
their power to assist and please them. Their 
parents noticed this change and were delighted 
with it. 

George and Clara, too, were much happier than 
ever before. It is true they were not so wild and 


160 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


boisterous in the manifestation of their feelings ; 
but their faces were bright with the pleasant and 
kind affections in their hearts. They found that it was 
much better to try to discover their own faults, and 
to correct them, than to have them discovered and 
censured by others. They gradually learned the 
important lesson we are all so slow to learn, that 
every fault, and every evil habit, causes us much 
more trouble and** pain when we indulge it, than 
it does to confess to ourselves its real character, and 
resolutely to overcome it. 

They became discouraged sometimes, because the 
old habits would return, and because they saw so 
many selfish feelings to correct in their hearts, that 
it seemed as if there was no use in trying. Then 
the magical spectacles came to their aid. “ One 
thing at a time,” helped them wonderfully. 

“ 1 do believe,” said George to Clara one day, 
“ that there is some magical power in those words. 
Whenever I get discouraged or confused, this motto 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


161 


comes into my mind, and I can see everything 
clearer at once.” 

“ I find it so too,” said Clara, “ but still I do get 
discouraged. If you could only get rid of your 
faults one at a time, and they wouldn’t come back 
again, there would be some hope. But they won’t 
stay put away. They are worse than the weeds in the 
garden. When you pull one up and throw it away 
there is some comfort in thinking it will never grow 
again, even if another does come up in its place.” 

“ But we must think of the other rules : ‘ Don’t 

get discouraged,’ and ‘Persevere.’ I thought I 
never should get the weeds out of my bed, and be 
able to keep it clean. But when the plants were 
grown, the weeds had no chance to grow, and I had 
no more trouble with them. A slim, sickly little 
fellow would sometimes get up under the shade of 
another plant ; but it was soon disposed of. Per- 
haps it will be so with our bad habits and all our 
evils. But whether it will or not, I am paid a 


162 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


thousand times for trying to get rid of them ; I feel 
so much happier than I ever did before. I enjoy 
every minute in school. Hard lessons don’t trouble 
me in the least ; I am not afraid of the severest rules. 
If the teacher should make a law, that every one 
who whispered should be hung, it wouldn’t alarm 
me, because I am so much interested , in my lessons 
that I forget all about the other scholars, and have no 
wish to speak to anybody. I used to think the teacher 
was very cross, but he does not seem so now. He 
never scolds me, but always speaks kindly, and the 
boys all seem to like me better than ever before.” 

“ Yes,” said Clara, “it is just so with me. I was 
never so happy in my life. How much pleasanter it 
is at home too -I Didn’t I hate to sew and practise 
my music lesson ? Even the thought of it made me 
unhappy all the morning. I must have made it very 
unpleasant for mamma too, because she had to compel 
me to get my lessons, and learn to sew. But it is very 
different now. Yesterday as I was sewing with her, 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


163 


and singing, I was so happy, I suddenly looked up, 
and saw that her eyes were resting very earnestly 
upon me. When our eyes met she smiled so sweet- 
ly, it seemed as though her whole heart was in it ; 
but she said nothing. I knew she must be happy, 
and I felt sure she was thinking about me. That 
made me happier than ever. Then I began to 
think what made me feel so, and something seemed 
to say, 6 Because you are not selfish, but are trying to 
be good and to help your mother. The way to be 
happy yourself is to make others happy . 5 55 

“ That was the spectacles ! 55 exclaimed George, “ I 
know it was. They can speak, I am sure they can. 
I don’t suppose any one else can hear them. But I 
can. They speak inside the ear somehow. They 
say something new to me every day ; but I never 
thought before, that the way to be happy is to make 
others happy.” 

“ Neither did I,” said Clara ; “ it always seemed as 
though the way to be happy was to get things for 


164 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


yourself and to have others serve you. But, accord- 
ing to this way, we must give things to others or try 
to do them good. It seemed rather strange at first, 
and I thought it couldn’t he true. But now I am 
quite sure it is ; for I am never so happy as when I 
am trying to make others happy.” 

u How I think of it, I know it must be true too, for 
I recollect, the other day, I saw Joe Jenkins, whose 
parents are so poor that they can hardly get clothes 
to cover him, watching me while I was eating my 
lunch at school. I had a big apple, and when I 
began to eat it he looked at me as Trip sometimes 
does, when I am eating. I hated to give him the 
apple, for I wanted it myself ; but he looked at me 
so wistfully, and at the same time the thought came 
into my mind, ‘ Give it to him ! ’ that I could not 
resist it ; so I said, ‘ Joe, you may have this apple if 
you want it.’ He thought I was joking, at first; 
but when he found I was not, he held out both 
hands, and saying ‘ Thank you,’ he devoured it, core, 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


165 


seeds and all; I don’t believe he has had an apple 
before this year. When he had eaten it all up and 
wiped his mouth on his sleeve, he looked at me with 
such a sense of satisfaction and gratitude, that I 
shall never forget it in the world. It sends a thrill 
through me every time I think of it, and I have en- 
joyed it a thousand times as much as I should if I 
had eaten a dozen apples. I did not then see, exactly, 
why it made me so happy, but I do now.” 

“ Oh, yes, I can think of some things I have done, 
very much like that. I am sure the spectacles are 
right. Don’t they help us to see things ? And such 
good things too ! ” 

“Yes, indeed, and I shall never cease to be thank- 
ful to the fairy who gave them to us. They are a 
most wonderful gift, surely.” 

Here the conversation ended. But the new truth, 
that the way to be happy is, to make others happy, 
was safely lodged in their minds. They had for 

some time been doing the work that led to this 
11 


166 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


conclusion. They had been trying to discover their 
own faults and evils, and to resist them. When they 
saw anything that was selfish, unkind, or wrong in 
others, they would think : “ I wonder if I am like 

that ! ” and when they found any fault in themselves 
similar to what they saw in others, they began at 
once to try to get rid of it. They had succeeded 
very well too, as every one will, who earnestly tries 
to correct his faults. They had now learned the 
true secret of being happy, and were faithfully prac- 
tising it. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


167 


CHAPTER XI. 

THE SECRET OUT. 

Clara was right in her surmises about the cause 
of her mother’s happiness. Their parents could not 
but notice the change that was gradually taking 
place in their children, and it gave them the greatest 
delight, though they did not know exactly how to 
account for it. They had always taught them to 
avoid evil and to be honest, truthful, and kind to 
others. But their instructions did not seem to have 
had much effect for a long time. 

“ I am sure,” said Mr. Field one evening to his 
wife — “ I am sure there must be something about the 
‘ spectacles,’ that we don’t know.” 


168 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


“ Spectacles ! ” said Mrs. Field. “ What specta- 
cles % ” 

“Don’t yon recollect, that both George and 
Clara have spoken several times about ‘ spectacles ? ’ 
A few days ago I overheard them talking, in a very 
earnest manner, with each other : and every little 
while I could hear ‘ spectacles,’ ‘ magical,’ and some- 
times ‘ fairy ; ’ and once George raised his voice a 
little louder, and I heard : 1 Oh, I know it was the 
spectacles. Ain’t they wonderful ? ’ ” 

“ What do you suppose it can be ? ” 

“ I don’t know, I am sure, but I think they must 
have come under the influence of some unusual power, 
and a very good one too. If some angel had taken 
them in his care, he could not have made a greater 
or better change in them than has taken place. 
How diligent George has been in his studies for a 
long time ! His teacher told me, a few days ago, 
that he was the smartest and the best boy in school. 
You know he was always complaining about his 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


169 


studies, and how soon he became discouraged, but 
now nothing seems to daunt him. And how re- 
spectful, noble, and kind he is.” 

“ Yes, I have noticed it with the greatest delight. 
He seems to have changed in every respect. He 
used to make me so much trouble by throwing 
down his cap, and books, and clothes, wherever he 
used them last, and then he never could find them, 
and the whole house was thrown into an uproar. 
How he puts everything in its place, and seems 
very considerate in his whole conduct. But there has 
been just as great a change in Clara. I always sup- 
posed, however, that they were joking about the 
spectacles.” 

“ Well, I mean to ask them about it some time 
when I get a good chance. If there is anything in 
it I am sure they will tell us, for both of the children 
seem to put the utmost confidence in us.” 

“ Yes, I am sure of that ; Clara tells me all her 
little trials, and joys, and unburdens her whole heart 


170 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


to me. A few days ago I was much surprised and 
delighted at a conversation I had with her, because 
it showed how thoughtful she was becoming. I was 
reading, and she came up to me, and putting one 
arm around my neck, said : c Mamma ! I want to 
ask you something.’ ” 

“ What is it ? ” I said. 

“ I want to know if I have a great many faults, 
and if I am very bad.” 

“ No,” I replied, “ I don’t think you are very bad. 
You have faults, and evils, as we all have, but I 
think you are trying to put them away.” 

“ Yes, mamma,” she said with much earnestness, 
“ I am indeed. But I see so many evil thoughts and 
wrong feelings that it seems, sometimes, as if I was 
all bad.” 

“ I explained to her as well as I could, how evil 
we are by nature, and how sinful we become by 
practice, and that the only way to become better is 
to resist our evils, and overcome them.” 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 171 

44 But if they are 60 many that we can’t, what 
shall we do then ? ” sh®feplied. 

“ I told her we must not look at them all at once. 
We must drive them out little by little; if we think 
of one at a time and ask the Lord to help us, we 
shall certainly succeed. When I said 4 one at a 
time’ she started as if surprised, and then smiling 
she said, 4 she would try.’ Some company called 
and I had no more talk with her. But what she 
said showed how thoughtful she is, and that she is 
really trying to be good.” 

44 1 am sure of it,” replied Mr. Field ; 44 she will 
make a noble woman, and George will make a noble 
and useful man. He is pursuing the right course to 
do it.” 

A few evenings after this conversation, Mr. and 
Mrs. Field and the children were sitting together in 
the parlor, talking about some of the common topics 
of the day. Mr. Field took up the evening paper and 
began to look it over. It was badly printed and the 


172 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


type was so fine that lie found much difficulty in 
reading it. 4^ 

“I shall be compelled to get some spectacles,” 
he said, after one or two ineffectual attempts to read 
a short article. “ By the way, George,” turning to 
him, “ perhaps you will lend me yours.” 

George was taken somewhat by surprise by this 
request, but glancing at Clara, he replied : “ I would 
lend you mine with the greatest pleasure if I could 
get them out, without spoiling them. But I am 
afraid they would not be of much use to you or to 
me either, if I should take them out of my head.” 

The children laughed at this happy turn, but they 
soon grew serious, when Mr. Field asked him if he 
hadn’t any other spectacles than his eyes. 

The children looked at each other somewhat be- 
wildered. George hesitated and colored a little, and 
cast upon Clara an appealing look, as if asking wheth- 
er he should tell the whole story of the spectacles or 
not. She understood it, and, smiling, nodded her 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


173 


consent. The children had discussed the propriety 
of telling their parents about their wonderful gift, 
and had concluded to do it when there was a suita- 
ble occasion. That had now come, and George, with 
much hesitation, replied : 

“ Yes, sir. I think we have some others.” 

“Don’t you know certainly, whether you have 
or not?” asked his father, with a decided and 
searching but kind tone. 

“ I will tell you all about it,” George replied, 
“ and then you will know better than we do, whether 
we have any or not.” 

This answer surprised his parents not a little, and 
they waited with much interest to hear the disclosures 
he had to make. * 

George’s hesitation arose entirely from the fear 
that his father might laugh at him and tell him it 
was all an illusion ; but there was no retreat now, 
and he began and repeated the whole story of the 
spectacles, as nearly as he could recollect it. He told 


174 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


them how much they were in doubt whether it was 
a dream or a reality, their determination to give it 
a thorough trial, and their success in doing it. 

When George had finished his account, his father 
asked him why he had not told them before. 

“ Because,” George replied, “ we were not quite 
sure, at first, whether it was a dream or a reality 
and after we were certain that we really possessed such 
a wonderful gift, we were almost afraid to tell, for 
fear you and mother wouldn’t believe it. But we 
had resolved to tell you when we had a good 
chance.” 

“ That was right,” said his father. “ But are you 
sure now, that you have these magic spectacles ? ” 

“ I am,” said Clara, “ and so is George. We 
are quite sure, for they help us every day.” 

“ You can’t take them off, nor see them ? ” 

“ No, sir. The fairy told us that we could never 
get them off, if they were once firmly on.” 

“ Can’t you feel them ? ” asked their mother. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 175 

“ No, we can never feel them, but sometimes it 
seems as though they spoke to us.” 

“ When I don’t put up my things,” said George, 
“ I can always hear them say : £ Stop, put every- 

thing in its place,’ and they keep saying it until I 
obey them.” 

“ Is that what has made you so orderly lately ? ” 

“ Yes, mother, and they help us to see all kinds of 
faults, and to correct them.” 

“ There must be some magical power in them, 
certainly,” said his father, “ for they have wrought a 
wonderful change in both of you.” 

The children were greatly delighted that their 
parents believed in their magical gift. They 
would have no more occasion for fear or doubt. 
Now they were sure of them. 

“ Have you never seen your fairy since ? ” asked 
Mr. Field. 

“ No, sir. He told us we should never see him 
again.” 


176 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


u Didn’t lie say anything more to you ? ” 

“ No. He only told ns to take c one thing at a 
time,’ to £ look sharp,’ and c to persevere.’ ” 

“ That was good advice, surely,” said their 
father, “ whether he gave you anything else or not. 
Continue to practise those excellent precepts, especi- 
ally with reference to all that is good and true, and 
they will do far more for you than they have yet 
done ; and they will lead you to One who will give 
you wiser maxims than your fairy, and far more 
precious gifts than your magic spectacles.” 

It was now time to go to bed. George and Clara 
bid their parents good night and retired, highly 
pleased that all was now known, and the question 
of their wonderful gift finally settled. With the 
happy consciousness of this fact, and with bright 
hopes for the future, they went to sleep. 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


177 


CHAPTER XII. 

MAGIC SPECTACLES, AND AID FOR ALL. WILL YOU 

ACCEPT THEM? 

Some years have passed since tlie conversation in 
the last chapter, and George and Clara are still re- 
joicing in the possession of their magic spectacles, 
using them to discover the evils in their own cha- 
racters, and to see the truths that are necessary to 
the performance of their duties. Some persons laugh 
at them, when they insist that they have had the aid 
of some power besides their own, and declare that it 
was all a dream. They say that every one could do 
quite as well if they only practised the same rules 
faithfully and perseveringly. Perhaps my readers 
may be of the same opinion. I shall not attempt to 


ITS 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 


decide the question. Every one can test it for him- 
self, and I advise all my young readers to do it. 
Whether they have the spectacles or not, they will 
find the greatest help in following the directions the 
old man gave to George and Clara. 

“ One thing at a time,” is the secret which has en- 
abled many persons to do the most difficult things. 
The longest canals are dug by taking up one shovel- 
ful of earth at a time. Tunnels are cut for many 
miles through the hardest rocks by one blow at a 
time, and that blow makes so little impression that 
we can hardly see the mark it causes. The rocks 
themselves, and the whole earth, were formed particle 
by particle, one at a time. Children think it is im- 
possible to get their lessons, and they fail in them, 
because they try to think of too many things at once. 
Little reader, whoever you may be, when you have 
anything very hard to do, try the rule, “ one thing 
at a time,” and let that one thing be so small that 
you can do it, and you can get the hardest lessons, 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES. 179 

and do tlie most difficult works. There is a wonder- 
ful power in it. 

But if you do the one thing wrong, it will not help 
you. Don’t forget the other rule, therefore, “look 
sharp.” "When you want to go to any particular place 
you must go in the right direction, or you will never 
get there, however fast you may run. Look sharp 
at the one thing you are trying to do, and think only 
of that, and you will generally be able to under- 
stand it and do it. Then you have only to practise 
the other rule, “ persevere,” to accomplish the most 
difficult and wonderful tasks. 

Do one thing at a time ; see that you do it right, 
keep on doing, and you cannot fail. One word 
of a foreign language, learned every day, will 
soon enable you to converse in it upon any com- 
mon subject. 

If the little boys and girls who may read this book, 
will practise for one year the three rules, which the 
fairy gave to George and Clara, they will be as 


180 


THE MAGIC SPECTACLES.' 


much surprised at their own progress as George and 
Clara were at theirs ; and they will be much happier, 
at home and at school, in work and play, than they 
ever were before. Their parents will be delighted, 
and those who know will be sure that they are assist- 
ed by some power besides their own. 

When we desire to do right, and try to do it, we 
have more powerful beings to help us than all the 
fairies in the world. Especially is this true when we 
try to discover our own faults and evils, to correct 
them, and to do good to others. The Lord and the 
angels are with us in every good work. They will give 
us power to do all that it is our duty to do, and make 
us, as well as others, happy in doing it. Whether you 
have the magic spectacles or not, then, you have the 
rules without which they are of no value, and you 
will have the aid of beings who know you better, 
who love you more, and who can and will aid you 
at all times, as far as you will permit them, in shun- 
ning evil, in learning the truth, and in doing good. 









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